Roy’s to pay
$245,000 settlementA sexual harassment suit
leads to new staff training
measures for the company
Roy's Poipu Bar and Grill, a popular Kauai restaurant owned by chef Roy Yamaguchi, has agreed to pay $245,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit involving a former manager.
In the settlement announced yesterday, RY-4 Inc., which owns Roy's Poipu Bar and Grill, denies any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the suit to avoid drawn-out and costly litigation.
Under a three-year agreement approved by U.S. District Judge Susan Mollway, the company also agreed to train its officers, supervisors and employees in sexual harassment prevention and response to prevent future incidents.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a federal suit against the restaurant's owner in December on behalf of three female employees alleging the restaurant ignored complaints that a manager sexually harassed female staffers repeatedly since 1997. The harassment included verbal and physical sexual harassment, said Wilfredo Tungol, trial attorney for the EEOC Honolulu office.
The commission alleged that the manager was promoted even after the employees complained about him. The manager was fired in 1999.
Kauai attorney Susan Marshall, who represented the three women, confirmed the matter has been resolved but would not comment further. The settlement is confidential.
Two of the women still work at the restaurant.
Yamaguchi and counsel for RY-4 Inc. could not be reached for comment.
H. Joan Ehrlich, EEOC district director, commended Yamaguchi for working to settle the lawsuit and reaffirming his commitment to ban sex discrimination and harassment in his restaurant.
"Strong EEOC policies, supervisor accountability and training -- these send the message that sexual harassment will not be tolerated," Ehrlich said. "When employees are clear on how to complain about sexual harassment, and when management is committed to an effective and prompt response, everyone wins."
