small brouhaha over a billboard sign they erected over the Atlantic City Expressway featuring a finely photoshopped derriere. Now, the flailing Atlantic City hotel is being sued by seven former employees who claim the resort fired middle-aged cocktail servers to make room for younger women who looked better in skimpy, sexy outfits.

The discrimination lawsuit alleges that Resorts owner Dennis Gomes fired the employees because they failed to fit the boss's "body ideal or appearance ideal." These new outfits are part of the hotels rebranding, tied-in with a 1920s-theme, echoing Boardwalk Empire; the cocktail waitresses were asked to slip into skimpy flapper costumes, complete with fishnet stockings and high heels. The women claim the only available outfits were sizes 2 and 4, and a modeling agency hired by the casino judged and dismissed them if they weren't found "feminine enough."

The women's lawyer, Kevin M. Costello, argues that looking fashionable or sexy in revealing costumes is not a legal job requirement for cocktail servers. Robert McDevitt, president of Local 54 of UNITE-HERE, which represents casino cocktail servers throughout Atlantic City, agreed that Resorts targeted its older workers. "I can't think of anything I've dealt with that was more disgusting and dehumanizing than what they've done to these women," McDevitt told The AC Press.

Resorts spokeswoman Courtney Birmingham told the News, "All cocktail servers were given individual consideration, and the selection process was conducted in a fair and objective manner. We empathize with the cocktail servers who lost their jobs and gave them hiring preference in other open positions at Resorts. Some took advantage of this offer and some did not."

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFRyP_7XqsLPKHhYwdgeTOnvqhP-Q&url=http://gothamist.com/2011/04/01/cocktail_waitresses_sue_casino_over.php

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