Video: Ichiban Restaurant Ordered To Pay Former Employee In Jury Verdict

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — A Lee County jury awards 85 thousand dollars to a former employee of a Tupelo restaurant, who claims she was fired from her job for reporting illegal activity.

Phuong Nguyen worked in the kitchen at “Ichiban Japanese Grill” from 2009 until 2012.

Nguyen claims she was not paid a proper wage during the time she worked at the restaurant.

She also claimed she reported illegal activity and owners of the North Gloster Street restaurant fired her.

“She testified that the illegal activity she reported was that she was sexually assaulted by a co worker in the restaurant on the night of October 31st, 2012. The message is an important one for employers and employees, I think it’s incredibly important that employees understand their rights, first to be paid a minimum wage and second they cannot be terminated in Mississippi for reporting an illegal act,” said Attorney Rachel Waide, of Waide and Associates, who represented Nguyen.

Tupelo attorney Jonathan Martin represents Ichiban’s owners. He was in court and hasn’t been able to return our calls for comment on this story.