An African-American woman fired from a Maryland Hooters in 2013 sued the 'breastaurant' - and is now set to receive thousands of dollars from an arbitration ruling. Plaintiff Farryn Johnson has said the Baltimore restaurant where she worked had an issue with her blonde highlights. Johnson claimed in an interview with WBAL, 'I decided to put highlights in my hair, blonde in particular. And when I came in to work, management was not happy about the highlights being added to my hair.' Scroll down for video . Waitress: Farryn Johnson was fired from a Maryland Hooters in 2013 sued the breastaurant - and is now set to receive thousands of dollars from an arbitration ruling . Workplace issues: Johnson has claimed a supervisor at the Hooters where she worked (pictured) had an issue with her getting blonde highlights . Johnson continued 'And the manager at the time literally said "You can't have blonde, cause black people don't have blonde hair."' Johnson told the television station she was given reduced shifts, written warnings, and later terminated. An arbitrator determined Johnson was let go illegally and as a result of racial discrimination, WBAL reported. He also reportedly said Hooters violated state civil rights laws, as well as federal ones. According to WBAL, Johnson has been awarded $250,000 for  both her legal fees and lost wages. Ruling: An arbitrator recently ruled in Johnson's favor. She is seen here in 2013 . Johnson's attorney Andrew Levy told the television station 'I hope that Hooters sees this as an opportunity to make improvements in the way they train their managers and they way they deal with their employees.' In a statement, Hooters said '[Johnson] claimed that Hooters actions were discriminatory and that the company does not allow African-American women to wear colors in their hair that are not natural for their ethnicity. Nothing could be further from the truth.' 'Ms. Johnson's claims of discrimination are simply without merit,' the company said. The arbitrator's decision in the case was 'adverse and flawed,' Hooters said. 'Contrary to exaggerated reports, Ms. Johnson did not receive $250,000 in back pay, but rather only $11,886.40, while her attorneys on the other hand received approximately $244,000 in attorneys’ fees,' the restaurant chain's statement said.
Farryn Johnson was fired from a Hooters in 2013 . She has claimed that a supervisor at the time had an issue with her getting blonde highlights . Johnson has alleged she was given reduced shifts, written warnings and later terminated . She is now set to receive $250,000 covering both legal fees and lost wages from an arbitration ruling . Hooters has said her 'claims of discrimination are simply without merit' The company has said Johnson's lawyers are actually getting $244,000, while Johnson herself is getting around $12,000 .