New York City eatery Sutton Place Restaurant and Bar is facing some serious charges from two former waitresses, who say their boss forced them to keep a spreadsheet of their weights. They're suing to the tune of $15 million.
The New York Post reports that Kristen McRedmond and Alexandria Lipton filed the suit six years ago, but the state Appellate Division is now convinced of the case's merit, which makes a trial later this year possible.
The suit alleges McRedmond and Lipton were constantly touched inappropriately on the buttocks and breast and made the subject of obscene comments about their weight and appearance by their boss, Neil Hanafy. The women also maintain they were ordered to get on a scale at one point in the summer of 2006; when McRedmond refused, she says Hanafy forcibly lifted her and placed her on it.
Both women were fired when they complained about the weigh-in policy, but the restaurant claims they were let go because of tardiness and breaking rules.
The Associated Press spoke with the women's lawyer, Rosemarie Arnold, who said the management "treated these women like chattel, and they're going to face the jury now."
Whether or not the allegations are true, Sutton Place Restaurant and Bar now joins the ranks of other dining establishments in hot water over weight issues. In 2010, Detroit Hooters waitress Cassandra Smith was put on a 30-day probation by store managers for being too heavy -- she weighed 132 pounds and stood 5'8" -- and was ordered to join a gym. Smith soon filed an anti-discrimination lawsuit.