Former Langer's Deli Server's Suit Alleges Unpaid Wages, Fat Shaming

LOS ANGELES, CA — A former Langer's Delicatessen server is suing the restaurant, alleging he was wrongfully fired in 2025 for complaining about not being paid for all time worked and for protesting owner Norm Langer's alleged harassment of the plaintiff for his physique.

Erick Zamora's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit allegations include wrongful termination, battery, gender discrimination, harassment, retaliation and various state Labor Code violations. Zamora seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

A Langer's representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit filed Aug. 27.

Langer is a second-generation owner of the Westlake deli, which has been an institution at the location on South Alvarado Street for nearly 80 years after being opened by his father, Albert J. Langer. In May, Langer said he supported continued local and federal efforts to clean up the area, which includes MacArthur Park.

Zamora was hired in April 2024. Langer directed the plaintiff to perform public relations, marketing and social media work on behalf of the eatery beginning in the summer of 2024 without extra compensation, the suit states. Langer told Zamora what material to post and the plaintiff used his personal phone to create and publish the required content, according to the suit.

Zamora performed the work for about a year without regular or overtime pay, although Langer twice gave Zamora $100 in cash after the plaintiff complained, representing the only money Zamora received for his year's worth of work, the suit states.

Zamora also contends that he was denied rest periods and was not compensated for those he was not given, the suit further states. Langer disciplined employees who entered their work commencement time on a clock as little as one minute late, according to the complaint.

Langer, 81, also called Zamora "fat" and "ugly" and, commenting on the plaintiff's stomach, said repeatedly, "What did I tell you about getting that gut down?" while also at times grabbing the plaintiff's stomach, the suit alleges.

Langer did not make disparaging comments about other overweight employees, the suit states. Zamora also saw Langer inappropriately touch some female employees by pinching or poking them, according to the suit. When Zamora complained to a supervisor, Langer said, "It's my restaurant, I can do what I want," the suit states.

Each time Zamora objected to Langer's treatment of him, the owner's harassment intensified and the plaintiff's work was increasingly scrutinized and criticized, according to the complaint.

Zamora was disciplined for using his cell phone at work even though he was doing the social media tasks Langer assigned him, the suit states. He was fired in August 2025 for allegedly having a poor attitude, but contends the real reasons he lost his job were his complaints about not being paid for all hours worked as well as his opposition to Langer's alleged harassment.

City News Service