Domino's franchise operators accused of uttering death threats will keep store
The operators of a Domino's Canada franchise in North Vancouver who were alleged to have exploited two former employees will keep their pizza store.
On Wednesday, CBC News learned a B.C. Supreme Court civil case, between brothers Keyvan Iranmanesh and Farhad Iranmanesh and Domino's Canada, was settled on Aug. 27, with the owners retaining the store.
Pursuant to a court Order that was agreed to by all the parties the Iranmaneshes, and their company, Golden Globe Pizza, are required to pay Domino's Canada $30,000 and hire an outside, arms-length company to run their payroll.
The employees, Blake Dearman and Dakota Gervais-Brulhart, filed complaints with police and the Employment Standards Branch of B.C. They also said at the time that they feared for their safety.
Gervais-Brulhart told CBC News that his bosses said they would "cut his [Dearman's] head off" and that "they're going to slit our throats and murder us."
Domino's Canada investigated and terminated its contract with the North Vancouver franchise. But the two brothers fought the termination with legal action and won a temporary injunction in BC Supreme Court to hold on to their business while the court case was pending. They also adamantly denied any assaults or threats.
The two ex-employees ultimately received some back pay from the Iranmaneshes - some of it in a settlement organized by the Employment Standards Branch.
Although no criminal charges were laid as a result of the police investigation, the Iranmanesh brothers will be required to attend a peace bond hearing at North Vancouver Provincial Court in January regarding the ex-employees' safety concerns.
Read the consent order.
