U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you know**Official websites use .gov**
              
                A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
                A **lock** (
              A locked padlock
              ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive
                information only on official, secure websites.  Home
                    *U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission*

      search
      Menu
      Any of these words (optional)
Search

    close
            About EEOC
          
                        
  
    **About EEOC**
                        Overview
                                  The Commission and The General Counsel
                                  Commission Votes
                                  Meetings of the Commission
                                  EEOC History
                                  **News and Information**
                        Newsroom
                                  What You Should Know
                                  Legislative Affairs
                                  Publications
                                  Outreach and Education
                                  FOIA
              **Laws and Enforcement**
                        Laws, Regulations, Guidance and MOUs
                                  Discrimination by Type
                                  Mediation
                                  Litigation
                                  Systemic Enforcement
                                  Commissioner Charges and Directed Investigations
              **Programs and Performance**
                        Budget and Performance
                                  Initiatives
                                  Interagency Programs
                                  State and Local Programs
                                  Task Forces
                                  Tribal Programs
              **Data and Analytics**
                        Overview
                                  Data Governance
                                  EEO Data Collections
                                  Data and Statistics
                                  Data Tools and Products
                                  No FEAR Act Data
                                  **Inside EEOC**
                        Careers
                                  Office for Civil Rights, Diversity and Inclusion
                                  Doing Business with EEOC
                                  Privacy
                                  Office of Inspector General
          
                                            
  
      
                  
                        Employees & Job Applicants
          
                        
  
    **Employees & Applicants**
                        Overview
                                  Coverage
                                  Timeliness
                                  Prohibited Practices
              **Filing a Charge of Discrimination**
                        Filing a Charge
                                  How to File
                                  After You File a Charge
                                  Confidentiality
                                  Mediation
                                  Remedies
                                  Existing Charges
                                  Filing a Lawsuit
              **Discrimination by Type**
                        Age
                                  Disability
                                  Equal Pay
                                  Genetic Information
                                  Harassment
                                  National Origin Discrimination
                                  Pregnancy Discrimination
                                  Race/Color Discrimination
                                  Religious Discrimination
                                  Retaliation
                                  Sex
                                  Sexual Harassment
                                  Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
          
                                  
  
      
                  
                        Employers / Small Business
          
                        
  
    **Employers / Small Business**
                        Overview
                                  Coverage
                                  After a Charge is Filed
                                  Resolving a Charge
                                  Commissioner Charges and Directed Investigations
                                  Remedies
              **Small Business Resource Center**
                        Small Business Home
                                  Small Business Requirements
                                  Frequently Asked Questions
                                  Tips for Small Businesses
                                  Making an Employment Decision?
                                  EEOC Resources
                                  Small Business Assistance
                                  Small Business Fact Sheet
                                  Small Business Videos
                                  EEOC Glossary
                                  Contact Us
              **Discrimination by Type**
                        Age
                                  Disability
                                  Equal Pay
                                  Genetic Information
                                  Harassment
                                  National Origin
                                  Pregnancy
                                  Race/Color
                                  Religion
                                  Retaliation
                                  Sex
                                  Sexual Harassment
                                  Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
                                  Prohibited Practices
              Recordkeeping
                                  EEO Data Collections
                                  "Know Your Rights" Poster
                                  Training
                                  Other Employment Issues
          
                                            
  
      
                  
                        Federal Sector
          
                        
  
    **Federal Agencies**
                        Overview
                                  Federal EEO Coordination
                                  Federal Agency EEO Directors
                                  Laws, Regulations, Guidance & MOUs
                                  Management Directives & Federal Sector Guidance
                                  Federal Training & Outreach
                                  Resources
              **Federal Employees & Job Applicants**
                        Overview
                                  Federal Complaint Process
                                  Federal Sector Alternative Dispute Resolution
                                  Discrimination by Type
                                  Other Federal Protections
                                  Prohibited Practices
                                  Resources
          
                        
  
      
                  
                        Contact Us
          
                        
  
    Contact EEOC
                                  Find Your Nearest Office
                                  Office Operating Status
                                  Frequently Asked Questions

        
                  Languages
    English
              Español (Spanish)
                    Resources in Other Languages
                    عربي (Arabic)
              简体中文 (Chinese, Simplified)
              繁體中文 - Chinese (Traditional)
              Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole)
              한국어 (Korean)
              Русском (Russian)
              Tagalog (Tagalog)
              Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
              فارسی (Persian. Farsi)
              پښتو (Pashto)
          

  

  Breadcrumb
Home
  Newsroom
  EEOC Sues Mariscos El Puerto and La Catrina for Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Harassment Against Gay and Lesbian Workers

                      
                        

          
          
                        Press Release
              08-24-2023
                  EEOC Sues Mariscos El Puerto and La Catrina for Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Harassment Against Gay and Lesbian Workers
          
  

          
  Las Vegas Restaurant and Bar Also Retaliated Against Employees, Federal Agency Charges
LAS VEGAS — Mariscos El Puerto, Inc. and La Catrina, LLC, a restaurant and bar based in Las Vegas, violated federal law when its owners, managers, supervisors, co-workers, and customers subjected female workers to sexual harassment and subjected gay and lesbian workers to discrimination and harassment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in two separate lawsuits filed today.

According to the first lawsuit, since 2015, male managers, supervisors, co-workers, and/or customers of Mariscos and La Catrina subjected female workers at the restaurant and bar to sexual harassment. Male managers and/or supervisors required female employees to engage in sexual activities to maintain their employment and terminated employees who refused. The harassment also included sexual assaults, sexual solicitations, inappropriate touching of the buttocks and breasts, males rubbing up against the female workers, and frequent explicit sexual comments.

The second lawsuit alleges Mariscos’ and La Catrina’s owners, managers, and/or supervisors discriminated against gay and lesbian workers and subjected them to harassment based on their sexual orientation, which included physical assault and offensive slurs. The two lawsuits further allege that for some workers, the working conditions were so intolerable they felt they had no choice but to quit.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of of 1964, which prohibits sexual harassment, harassment and retaliation for opposing such behavior. The EEOC filed the two suits in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada (EEOC v. Mariscos El Puerto, Inc. and La Catrina, LLC, Case Nos. 2:23-cv-01309 and 2:23-cv-01310) after first attempting to reach pre-litigation settlements through its conciliation processes.

The EEOC’s suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the complainants and class members as well as injunctive relief intended to prevent Mariscos and La Catrina from engaging in further discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

“The EEOC continues to see egregious sexual harassment against vulnerable low-wage workers in the restaurant industry,” said Anna Park, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District, which includes Las Vegas in its jurisdiction. “The Commission will continue to vigorously enforce anti-discrimination laws on behalf of the most vulnerable workers.”

“Employers have an obligation to prevent and address harassment in the workplace,” said Michael Mendoza, director of the Las Vegas Local Office. “To allow a work environment to fester with sexual and sexual orientation harassment is unacceptable.”

To find out more information about sexual harassment, visit the EEOC’s website: https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment. For more information on sexual orientation discrimination, visit: https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-sogi-discrimination; and for retaliation: https://www.eeoc.gov/retaliation.

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.
      
              Translate this Page
    EnglishEspañol (Spanish)
Recent Press Releases from the Las Vegas Local OfficeEEOC Announces Several Sexual Harassment Lawsuits Filed Against the Las Vegas Hospitality Industry
    EEOC Announces Several Sexual Harassment Lawsuits Filed Against the Las Vegas Hospitality Industry
    La EEOC Anuncia Varias Demandas por Acoso Sexual Presentadas Contra la Industria Hospitalaria de Las Vegas
Recent Press Releases on the Subject of Sexual Harassment, RetaliationShane’s Rib Shack Franchisees to Pay $56,500 in EEOC Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit
    EEOC Sues Ephraim McDowell Health For Sex Discrimination And Retaliation
    EEOC Sues Iron Hill Brewery for Race Discrimination and RetaliationReturn to top

  EEOC Logo, Image
            U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

          EEOC Headquarters
              131 M Street, NE
Washington, DC 205071-800-669-6820 (TTY)1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone)

        Questions?

Call 1-800-669-4000
For Deaf/Hard of Hearing callers:1-800-669-6820 (TTY)1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone)info@eeoc.govFind your nearest EEOC officeFrequently Asked Questions
          Connect With Us

  FOIA
      
    
                      Privacy Policy
      
    
                      Disclaimer
      
    
                      Accessibility
      
    
                      Office of Inspector General
      
    
                      Promoting Access to Voting
      
    
                      USA.gov