A judge ruled Tuesday that three sisters who accused Ayhan’s Fish Kebab Restaurant staff of sexual abuse are entitled to damages.
U.S. District Judge William F. Kuntz said in his ruling that a trial wasn’t necessary since the evidence was so blatant and that he was handing over the case to a magistrate who will assess damages.
The lawsuit was filed against the Port restaurant owner Ayhan Hassan and manager Dario Gomez in 2011 by Ashley, Gabrielle and Lauren D’Annunzio, who worked as hostesses at the restaurant between 2005 to 2008 and claimed during this time they were harassed by male employees physically and verbally.
Judge Kuntz said there was no evidence that Hasan knew of the abuse and dismissed this part of the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed after an investigation by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) found that in 2008, Lauren was sexually abused by cook Juan Pablo Orellano in the basement of the restaurant. The EEOC report said Orellano “groped her breasts and genitals outside of her clothing while she shouted unsuccessfully for him to stop.”
Lauren was 17 years old at the time. Orellano pleaded guilty to attempted sexual abuse that October and was sentenced to four months in jail. He was deported after his release.
