Court Approves Settlement of Wage Claims Against Japanese Steakhouse Chain

A federal court in California has reportedly approved the settlement of wage-related claims in a class action filed by restaurant managers against Benihana National Corp., which owns and operates a Japanese hibachi steakhouse chain. Akaosugi v. Benihana Nat’l Corp., No. 11-1272 (N.D. Cal., settlement approved January 24, 2103).

The company has apparently agreed to pay $660,000, including attorney’s
fees and costs, to settle claims that it forfeited managers’ accrued vacation
and failed to compensate them for it, forced them to work more than eight
hours a day without paying overtime, failed to provide meal and rest breaks,
and failed to provide accurate wage statements. See Mealey’s Class Actions,
February 1, 2013.