Seafood Waitress Sues Over Ocean-Themed Sex Harassment

A waitress at City Island’s most popular seafood restaurant, The Lobster Box, is suing the joint for firing her after reporting a manager's sexual harassment. The lawsuit claims manager Lanni Liapis allegedly fine-tuned his misogynistic pick-up lines to match his surroundings. "He grabbed his penis and said, ‘Come over here. I want you to turn my shrimp into a lobster,'" according to court papers filed by 28-year-old Rosemarie Ferranti, who was presumably hired to wait tables, not transmogrify genitalia.

Ferranti also claims Liapis told her and another female employee to have sex, and he would join in. The co-worker apparently found the flirtation irresistible, allegedly grabbing Ferranti's shrimpy crotch while asking, "Can I have some fun with you?" Liapis also allegedly informed Ferranti, "All women belong on their knees." While Lanni Liapis might think such sweet nothings are catnip to women, Ferranti was offended, and reported the abuse to restaurant owner Visilios Lambos. According to the lawsuit, he replied, "I’m not going to fire him."

Instead, Ferranti claims she was fired, and she's suing for unspecified damages. Lambos claims she quit on her own accord and still owes him $600. He tells the Post, "This is not true, absolutely. I am very nice with all my workers." At press time, it was unclear if Liapis is still employed there, or if his shrimp ever evolved into a larger crustacean.