Diner owner pays to settle case

The owner of Peter's Diner in Williamstown has paid $20,000 to a former waitress who alleged that she was fired for telling a coworker that she had been sexually harassed on the job, state authorities announced yesterday.

Diner owner Angelo Giannkaris also paid $7,500 to New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights to settle the complaint, brought jointly by the division and the woman in March 2005.

The waitress was fired after reporting that Giannkaris had inappropriately placed his hands on her hips. Giannkaris told authorities he dismissed the woman for poor job performance because she dropped trays and plates of food, but those allegations could not be substantiated, authorities said. Giannkaris did not immediately return a message for comment yesterday. In July, Giannkaris paid $5,000 to resolve a complaint filed by another former waitress who also alleged that she had been inappropriately touched, officials said.   

- Barbara Boyer