A lawsuit was filed in New York State Supreme Court on behalf of thirteen past and present employees of the Hampton by Hilton in White Plains, Westchester County, NY pursuant to the New York State Executive Law, Article 15, Human Rights Law, § 290, et. seq. (the “NYSHRL”) and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (“TVPA”) against the Schulte Hospitality Group, the Hampton Inn, Hilton Worldwide and the individual managers of the hotel seeking equitable relief and monetary damages to redress injuries resulting from sexual harassment and hostile work environment at the Hampton by Hilton, located at 200 West Main Street, Elmsford, New York. It is alleged that the work environment was permeated with criminal activity, prostitution, drug use, violence, and human trafficking, that was created, condoned, and tolerated by the defendants.
The plaintiffs in this case are represented by their attorneys, Murtagh, Cossu, Venditti & Castro-Blanco, LLP. (A copy of the Complaint is attached to this Release)
The complaint details how the plaintiffs/employees in this case endured violence and multiple indignities. It is alleged that Pimps and Johns solicited the plaintiffs for sex and attempted to recruit them with offers of “fast easy money.” Employees saw 15-20 Johns entering and leaving a room during a single shift. Female employees were groped and often hid in locked rooms for fear of rape or assault. Male employees were repeatedly solicited by the prostitutes, grabbed and told explicitly what sexual acts would be done. Prostitutes roamed the halls scantily dressed and Johns disrobed in the hallways.
The complaint alleges that violent incidents abounded. Employees heard prostitutes being beaten in their rooms. Employees witnessed a prostitute chased down the hall by a man with a knife. A male employee was attacked by an apparently drugged John. When these and other complaints were brought to the hotel manager, employees were told,“What happens in the hotel stays in the hotel.”
The plaintiffs further allege that management was involved and complicit in the criminal activity. On one occasion when there was a dispute between a John and a prostitute, the manager intervened, knocking on the door saying, “It’s me, TJ open up.” When told by the prostitute that a John wouldn’t pay, he replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.” One Plaintiff was directed by the manager to take one of the Asian prostitutes to the airport. Management offered discounted rates to the prostitutes, accepted cash payments and took rooms “off-line” to assist prostitutes in conducting their business.
The continued presence of prostitution, drug use and violence enabled management to continue to profit from illicit and illegal conduct. When confronted by employees at a meeting about the ongoing criminality, the manager replied, “Let me tell you guys something, if it weren’t for the prostitutes, none of you guys would have a job right now.”
In November of 2022, an employee sent a two-page, single spaced letter to the Schulte Hospitality Management confidential reporting site detailing the continuing and unacceptable criminal conduct taking place at the hotel, and the fear employees had of working under those conditions. Her complaint was ignored. Only when her attorney sent a letter to the regional manager asking that the situation be addressed, and that confidentiality be maintained as to the “whistleblower,” was any action taken.
Unfortunately, after the manager was dismissed, the whistleblower was told by another employee that the manager knew that it was her that reported the criminal activity and she was told to “watch out.” She was fearful for her life, as on several occasions in the past, the manager told her that he had a gun.
The defendants failed to enact and enforce company-wide policies to quash the criminal activity, prostitution, violence, and sex trafficking. As a result, the Hampton Inn has become a venue of choice for criminal activity, as pimps and prostitutes capitalized on the defendants’complacency and complicity, and the defendants profited from the crimes taking place. Even today, “escorts” advertise openly on websites that they will provide a variety of sexual services and list the Hampton Inn address as their place of business.
