NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A federal lawsuit has been filed against a Salina and Hutchinson restaurant owner for not paying some of their employees the minimum wage, among other violations.
Documents were filed last week by the U.S. Department of Labor against the owners of Dimaru in Salina and Mr. Cao in Hutchinson, demanding $783,000 alleging that defendants failed to pay two Daimaru employees according to law and including liquidated damages.
The allegations are for actions that are said to have taken place between 2018 and 2020. They are also accused of not paying time and a half for overtime hours and not maintaining correct records of hours worked.
The department also alleges that similar violations occurred in 2015 and that Diamaru agreed to comply going forward in 2016, but that they did not change their practices.
The department also alleges that a couple who both worked in Salina contracted COVID-19 and that Diamaru did not pay proper sick leave during that period.
The lawsuit lists 39 employees at Hutchinson and 52 at Salina.