Tinian waitress sues for sexual harassment

A karaoke waitress has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in federal court against a Tinian company that allegedly coerced her to work as a prostitute.

Dong Jie Song, a Chinese national, asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to issue an order stopping Huang Shun Corp. and its officers from engaging in sexual harassment and discrimination. Song is represented in the case by attorney Colin Thompson.

Henie Cruz, assistant general manager for Huang Shun Corp., belied Song’s claims, saying she was never their employee.

Cruz said that Song also filed a Labor complaint against the company for alleged unpaid wages but Labor subsequently dismissed the case.

Cruz said that some jobless aliens, including Song, used to hang out at their Popz Bar on Tinian.

According to the complaint, Huang Shun Corp. hired Song as a karaoke waitress and then forced her to work as a prostitute based on her national origin.

Although there were other karaoke waitresses, Song claims that only the Chinese waitresses were forced to work as prostitutes.

Thompson said that Filipino employees were paid bi-weekly, minimum wage, and overtime, while Chinese employees were paid once a month without overtime or minimum wage.

The lawyer said the company also subjected Chinese employees to beatings and verbal abuse.

Thompson said that Song was terminated on Sept. 22, 2009, because she complained and testified to authorities about the abuse.

Song has a pending case in federal court against the same defendant, when she sued it for allegedly failing to pay her overtime.

Cruz insists, however, that Labor had already issued an administrative order dismissing the complaint. Cruz showed a copy of the Labor order issued by Jerry Cody indicating that Song, through counsel Thompson, filed a notice of withdrawal on April 9, 2010.

Thompson stated that Song was withdrawing all claims before Labor and that she would be pursuing those claims in federal court.

Cruz said she processed Song’s employment papers with Labor on Sept. 3, 2009, but she withdrew them on Sept. 15, 2009, because the waitress ran off with her boyfriend.

Cruz said they canceled the employment because it would be the company’s liability if something happened to her.

She said Song also filed a Labor complaint for alleged unpaid wages, but it turned out that she was not their employee at that time.