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Eatzi employee Ichel Cook’s lawsuit against Dallas restaurateur Phil Romano has been resolved, according to the Dallas Morning News, although details around the settlement are scarce.
Dallas attorney John E. Wall Jr., who is listed in court documents as the attorney Cook, told the paper. “The case is over.” It’s unclear whether or not Cook received a financial settlement in the agreement.
Cook originally filed suit against Romano for sexual harassment in 2016. Her lawsuit alleged that Romano “inappropriately grabbed [her] buttocks with a grin on his face” while she was at a manager’s meeting, and that he later told her “I thought you were just one of the guys.” Security cameras in the restaurant caught the incident on tape. Later in 2016, she sought a minimum of $1 million in damages. In court documents, Cook said she was retaliated against after she reported the incident to human resources.
Eatzi’s, however, told the paper that the former assistant manager at the Oak Lawn location of Eatzi’s Market & Bakery “has not been subjected to any adverse employment actions” as a result of her complaint against Romano. ”All decisions relating to the employment of [Cook] were made in good faith and based on reasonable factors,” Eatzi’s statement reads.
Romano declined to comment on the details of the case to the Dallas Morning News, but when asked whether he was satisfied with the outcome, told the paper: “I didn’t get extorted. There was no extortion, so I’m happy about that.” As for whether Cook could return to Eatzi’s, the restaurateur says that Cook is “welcome to if she wants.”
