GALVESTON - Harris County resident Feng Ming Wu is suing his employer in response to an alleged assault last year, recent court documents say.
According to a lawsuit targeting Healthy Chinese Buffet LLC, another employee of the restaurant by the name of Shenggang Ning attacked the 45-year-old plaintiff, a chef, on Aug. 21, 2011.
Rather than dismiss the alleged attacker, the suit says, the eatery fired Wu, according to the suit was filed June 21 in Galveston County District Court.
Ning is not a defendant in the case.
The subject incident occurred exactly two months after the defendant hired Wu.
Wu says he did nothing to provoke Ning, claiming the latter "had in fact assaulted at least two other HCB employees, with no disciplinary action taken whatsoever by HCB management."
A police report accompanying the original petition alleges a knife or cutting instrument was involved.
The suit further explains the plaintiff was informed by management upon his return to work that Ning was a "bad person" who "was capable of burning down the restaurant" if faced with disciplinary action.
"Rather than removing the assailant, a known violent and unstable individual, HCB decided to terminate the employment of the victim, the plaintiff," the original petition says.
Wu insists the supposed ordeal caused him "to suffer from anxiety, blurred vision, insomnia and short-term memory loss."
HCB is ultimately blamed for negligent hiring and supervision.
Consequently, Wu seeks more than $50,000 in damages and a jury trial.
Attorney Brian Nguyen with Nguyen & Chen LLP in Houston is representing the plaintiff, and Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor is presiding over the case.
Case No. 12-cv-1406