Owner of Popular Los Angeles Restaurants Sushi Roku, Katana, and Boa Sued for Wrongful Termination

Former director of catering and special events alleges that she was fired for complaining that the company engaged in illegal and fraudulent conduct.

(PRWEB) October 19, 2005 -- Today, a former employee of Los Angeles based Innovative Dining Group, Inc. (“IDG”) filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the company and several of its high ranking partners and officials: Lee Maen, Phillip Cummins, and Michael Cardenas. The Los Angeles Superior Court assigned the lawsuit Case Number BC 341580.

Laura Holycross – the Company’s former Director of Catering and Special Events – alleges that she was wrongfully terminated after she complained that IDG was engaged in illegal and fraudulent conduct including: (1) charging several of its clients for non-existent services and products; (2) hiring undocumented workers so that it could pay them less than it would have to pay individuals authorized to work in the United States and that it paid its workers “under the table” so that it did not have to pay federal, state, and local taxes; (3) refusing to allow its workers to take the meal and rest periods to which they were entitled under California law; (4) instructing its employees, including Ms. Holycross, to falsify and forge legal documents and information that was to be provided to its clients, their lawyers, their security companies, and various police departments; and (5) instructing its employees not to book events that would include African-American and Persian guests.

Commenting about her lawsuit, Ms. Holycross’ attorney, Andrew H. Friedman of Venice-based Helmer • Friedman, LLP said “California law clearly prohibits employers, and certainly their highest level officials, from firing an employee for complaining about illegal conduct. We look forward to vigorously representing our client and obtaining the remedies to which she is entitled under the law.”

For additional information or a PDF copy of Ms. Holycross’s Complaint, contact:

Gregory D. Helmer

Andrew H. Friedman

Helmer • Friedman, LLP, (310) 396-7714 (www.helmerfriedman.com)

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