from www.nydailynews.com – Slinging booze to horny strangers was actually the best part of working at Sin City.
Waitresses at the Bronx jiggle joint were routinely groped by depraved managers who stole their tips and demanded sexual favors in the club’s Champagne Room, they charged in a suit filed in Manhattan Federal Court.
“Because it’s a strip club doesn’t mean that they have the right to disrespect you,” said plaintiff Janelle Denalli [pictured], 25, one of six ex-waitresses filing the suit.
“I’m not grinding,” the Elmont, L.I., woman said Thursday. “I’m not giving anyone any lap dances. I’m just serving drinks….This is a workplace.”
The scantily-clad waitresses, who could earn $500 a night in tips, would often see the money disappear into their bosses’ pockets, the suit charged.
The heels at the club even fined the waitresses for wearing the wrong kind of footwear – one of a litany of twisted complaints in the 22-page suit.
Denalli said she was reduced to tears by manager Kevin Wells, while co-workers claimed the bosses referred to the waitresses as “bitches” or with ethnic slurs.
“They degraded us,” said Jasmine Felipe, 26, of the Bronx. “They insulted us. They touched us. …There was a lot of sexual harassment and touching.”
Owner Gus Drakopoulos used the N-word to describe Gloria Fields, a black waitress who was humiliated when the boss crudely pawed at her, the suit charged.
Felipe charged Drakopoulos once demanded oral sex in return for buying her a scarf, while Denalli accused Wells of sucking on her foot and yanking at her bra.
“It’s humiliating,” said plaintiffs’ lawyer Lizabeth Schalet, of Lipman & Plesur. “These women will tell you they get more respect from the customers than they do from the managers.”
The suit contradicted the scenario on the Sin City website, which promises a “sophisticated decorum” with 50 to 100 dancers nightly in “New York’s No. 1 Strip Club!”
“We’re really upset. We strongly deny the allegations and we look forward to vindicating ourselves in the courtroom,” said Drakopoulos’ lawyer, Stephen Hans.
“Maybe the waitresses are upset because it’s a recession. Maybe guys are spending less money,” Hans said.
In addition to the purported sexual harassment, the workers were forced to work unpaid overtime and were paid less than minimum wage, the suit says.
“It doesn’t matter where you work,” said Caroline Espinal, 21, who claimed she was repeatedly pressed for sex. “Nobody’s supposed to be treated that way.”