The owners of Tasty Buffet are more than two years past due on a fine for federal labor violations that has been doubled to $459,658.

The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking a civil contempt ruling against Min Fang Yang and Huo Guang Huang, who own the Chinese restaurant in Poplar Plaza. A lawyer for the owners has been granted an extra two weeks to respond to the government’s petition so they can line up an interpreter and secure documents from an accountant based in New York.

The owners could not be interviewed because they do not speak English. Restaurant employee Elaine Yee said the owners hope to renegotiate the fine. The owners provided free food and lodging to the workers in addition to paying wages, she said, and did not understand the labor rules. The restaurant is currently abiding by the wage rules and still helping workers with lodging, she said.

“They are willing to do what needs to be done, but not this outrageous amount,” Yee said.

But a spokesman for the Labor Department said the owners have already had their day in court – more than once. The U.S. District Court in Memphis in August 2007 issued a judgment for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act against the individuals for failing to pay the minimum wage rate and abide by rules for overtime wages. The restaurant owners then filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which denied their request.

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