Waitresses sue Todai Restaurant

Ben Godar

Court proceedings could begin next month in a lawsuit filed

against Todai Restaurant Glendale by six waitresses alleging a

manager sexually harassed them and that they were demoted or fired

when they complained.

The lawsuit alleges that between October 2000 and March 2001,

former manager Luis Chang made repeated sexual advances and crude

comments toward the women. It also claims he told the women to wear

thinner panty hose and sit on male customers’ laps.

When the women complained to the restaurant’s owner, Todai’s

corporate offices and the California Department of Fair Employment

and Housing, the suit alleges, a “systematic and selective” campaign

of retaliation began. The women were assigned fewer shifts, and

waitress Phutthaporn Gi was fired the same day officials learned she

was involved in a lawsuit, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit was filed in September 2001. A judge recently set a

Feb. 10 trial date for it. Despite the delay, Scott Zeidman, one of

the attorneys representing the women, said their case is even

stronger. The delay allowed them to contact a woman who claimed Chang

harassed her while he was a manager at the Todai in Cerritos, Zeidman

said.

“This guy went out of his way to offend people,” he said.

Zeidman said he was even more shocked by what he described as a

lack of response the women received from Todai Glendale and Todai

Corporate. “Apparently, they did nothing but fire one of the

waitresses,” he said.

Representatives of Todai Corporate said they are investigating the

allegations but would not comment on the case. Representatives of

Todai Glendale could not be reached for comment.

Chang could not be located for comment. Zeidman said Chang was

fired after the lawsuit was filed, and Todai officials confirmed he

is no longer with the company. Since then, all but two of the women

have left Todai. One is on maternity leave, but Zeidman said waitress

Chantra Kaewdee still waits on tables at the restaurant.

“She’s doing her best there because she needs the job,” he said.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Zeidman said he believes

the women will receive a settlement “somewhere in the six figures.”