Former Shari's employee sues company on behalf of workers impacted by abrupt closure

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A former Shari’s employee has launched a class action lawsuit on behalf of all workers who were laid off when the restaurant chain abruptly closed last month.

As first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Heidi Woebbeking filed the lawsuit against the corporation and its parent company Gather Holdings Guarantee on Tuesday. The complaint states the plaintiff worked for the chain for more than six months before she was “terminated without cause and did not receive 60 days notice of her termination.”

State law requires employers to issue a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification at least 60 days ahead of mass layoffs. But when Shari’s shuttered doors at all Oregon locations on Oct. 20, the closure was news to many employees.

The lawsuit alleges the layoffs should have triggered a WARN Notice, as the restaurant chain planned to lay off at least 50 staff members and about 33% of its workforce.

“… Defendant acted willfully and cannot establish that they had any reasonable grounds or basis for believing their actions were not in violation of the WARN Act,” Attorney Nathan Ring wrote in the complaint.

Woebbeking is specifically seeking class action for former employees who were notified of the layoffs within 90 days. The plaintiff is requesting a jury trial for the case.

KOIN 6 previously reported that several other parties have launched lawsuits against the company, accusing it of failing to pay bills worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Oregon Lottery, which had video lottery machines at Shari’s restaurants, also claimed the company owes the organization at least $902,341.98. Spokesperson Melanie Mesaros said the chain could owe the lottery even more, depending on how much money it collected the weekend before its closure.

KOIN 6 has reached out to Gather Holdings Guarantee, along with its founder and managing member Samuel Borgese, for comment.