Judge orders Queens restaurant to pay $2.7M to 11 workers in back wages

A judge has ordered a Queens restaurant to pay $2.7 million to 11 workers in back wages.

The workers had filed a lawsuit against Kum Gang San, its owner and two restaurant managers claiming wage theft of $2.67 million.

A federal magistrate judge ruled last Thursday that the Korean restaurant paid employees "grossly substandard wages" and diverted some of their tips in violation of their rights.

The New York Times (http://nyti.ms/1NaiH9P ) says the owner disputed the claims and said he would appeal. His lawyers didn't' return messages for comment.

The Times says the company, Kum Gang Inc., had been investigated previously in connection with its Manhattan restaurant. The restaurant paid $1.95 million in damages for wages owned to 66 employees in that case.

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Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com