A New York Jury Awards $2.7 Million to Nightclub Manager for Sexual Harrassment
A New York jury recently awarded $2.7 million to former nightclub manager Maria Jose Pizarro after considering her claims of sexual harassment. Pizarro began working at New York City nightclub Euros El Tina in 2010 as a general manager. She maintained her position until she was fired in November 2019.
During her time working as the general manager, Pizarro experienced sexual harassment of various kinds at the hands of the club’s owner. He fondled her breasts, pressed his genitals against her body, and often left the bathroom door open, exposing his genitals despite her persistent requests to stop.
In 2019, Pizarro was working at her desk when she noticed the club owner masturbating in the bathroom with the door ajar. The restroom was just feet from her workspace, and she had no choice but to stand and close the door herself in order to complete her tasks.
The club owner also made frequent inappropriate sexual comments. When Pizarro politely asked him to stop or rejected his various advances, he became angry. Months later, she was fired from her managerial position at Euros El Tina. As a result of her lawsuit, the nightclub brought forth two cases against Pizarro.
A federal jury granted Pizarro $2.7 million as a result of her federal Title VII and New York City Human Rights Law claims, including the assertion that the club owner “created a hostile work environment and engaged in illegal discrimination.”
Pizarro’s lawyer commended her bravery and stated that the verdict allowed her voice to finally be heard after years of forced silence.
Authors: Alexis Kabat and Andy Goldwasser
