HONOLULU — A jury in Oahu has awarded more than $3 million to a former sous chef who alleged he suffered violent abuse by the executive chef at a Honolulu restaurant. The case was brought by Andrew DeBellis, who worked at Margotto Hawaii from October to December 2023 and claimed the restaurant’s owner enabled the abusive behavior.
The jury’s verdict, handed down on June 24, included $1.05 million in compensatory damages and an additional $2.1 million in punitive damages. DeBellis accused chef Yohei Yagishita of repeatedly assaulting him physically, causing injuries that included a torn rotator cuff.
According to the lawsuit, DeBellis reported the assaults to restaurant owner Robert Kazutomo Hori and later to police, but action was never taken. His attorney, James DiPasquale, described the situation as severe workplace bullying and stated that DeBellis is still coping with the psychological aftermath of the abuse, which has manifested as post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression, and chronic anxiety.
The legal complaint named both Yagishita and the restaurant’s parent company, New Field Honolulu Inc., along with Hori, alleging various counts including assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent supervision. Testimony revealed that Yagishita remained employed by the restaurant for six months after the allegations, leaving for Japan soon after being served with the lawsuit.
Despite the violent conduct, Hori testified during the trial to the stressful environment in the kitchen. He described Yagishita as someone who worked tirelessly but failed to recognize his aggressive tendencies, even saying, “I might get arrested for this, but Chef Yohei was working all day, every day.”
The claims of workplace violence included specific instances where DeBellis was punched in the face and kicked for what he described as mistakes related to kitchen tasks. His final day at work culminated in Yagishita allegedly hitting him three times for running out of supplies, directly leading to injuries that forced DeBellis to take extended leave from work.
Witnesses, including co-workers, corroborated DeBellis’s testimony of the hostile work environment. One colleague reported hearing loud slaps and saw Yagishita strike DeBellis, prompting him to voice his concerns directly to Hori about the chef’s violent behavior. Despite some awareness of the abuse, Hori and General Manager Eriko Nakagawa denied witnessing any incidents during the trial.
The jury found that Hori’s actions—failing to respond appropriately to the allegations of abuse—demonstrated a conscious disregard for DeBellis’ well-being. In their conclusion, they stated that the owner had engaged in willful misconduct, directly contributing to the emotional distress experienced by the plaintiff.
DeBellis, once described as an energetic employee, now struggles with the emotional toll of his experiences and continues to seek treatment for his mental health issues. The verdict highlights the serious ramifications of workplace violence, emphasizing the need for accountability and protective measures within restaurant environments.
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