Black Former Server Accuses Chateau Marmont Of Discrimination

HOLLYWOOD, CA — A Black former employee of the Chateau Marmont hotel has sued the company, claiming she suffered racial discrimination and sexual harassment before being laid off in 2020.

Thomasina Gross' Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges race discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and failure to prevent discrimination and harassment. She seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Gross, 40, was hired as an events server at the hotel in October 2017, where she says she was repeatedly passed over for promotions in favor of white applicants despite being more qualified.

Because events hours were irregular, Gross often tried to earn shifts in the hotel's restaurant, according to the lawsuit. Through her regular requests, she sometimes received shifts taking guest reservations over the phone, helping with dining service, or turning away walk-ins during busier seasons, the suit says.

Gross also says she unsuccessfully asked for shifts as a server, which is coveted because of the potential to earn sizeable tips. However, although she was told there were never any restaurant openings, new servers who were white continued to be hired, according to the complaint.

In her work as an events server, Gross was often subjected to unwanted touching from guests on a near-daily basis according to the suit. Overcrowded events would lead to guests becoming more aggressive, attempting to physically intimidate her, or grabbing her by the shoulders and arms, the suit says.

One guest ordered Gross to get on her knees to pick up spilled food on the carpet, leering at her while she did so, according to the suit.

The former server says she proposed a specific step the hotel could take to prevent unwanted touching and advances, but managers suggested she simply "avoid problem guests," she said.

Gross continued to work as an events server until she was laid off along with about 240 other Chateau Marmont employees in March when the hotel shut down due to the coronavirus, the suit states.

A Chateau Marmont representative could not be immediately reached for comment.

City News Service contributed to this report.