[Responsibility2nd]

They paid upon leaving. It's in the story.

Some places make you pay upon entering. The way this is worded, it looks like they paid, then ate one plate, then were told to leave.

Dershem said she paid her $5.95 fee on Saturday but was abruptly told to leave after eating one plate of food.

If it were me, I would not be a food waster, but I don't think I would have paid after just one plate.

[Dog Gone]

Okay, the story is slightly ambiguous, but there's this statement.

Dershem said she was shocked by the scolding and complained to management when she paid her check.

That doesn't sound like it was a pay before eating kind of deal.