Suit Alleges Pregnant Bartender Was Fired For Not Dressing Like 'California Hooker'
STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — A former bartender at a San Fernando Valley pub alleges that she was fired from her job because she was pregnant and that her clothing was not risque enough.
Amanda Lambert made the accusations Tuesday — which include pregnancy discrimination, wrongful termination, failure to prevent discrimination, negligence and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress — in a lawsuit against Kings Head Inc. filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Lambert was employed at The King's Head II, located at 12969 Ventura Blvd., from May through July 2012.
According to court documents, she said many of her coworkers wore tank tops with shorts or skirts, and that she preferred pants.
Lambert alleges that management told her the owners did not like her after she announced her pregnancy in June of 2012.
The following month she reportedly received a text message from general manager Kevin Willis stating: "I just don't know if it's going to work out here ... you'd be a better server and have only one shift, but you told me you can't overdo carrying trays and food."
In a meeting that followed, Willis told Lambert that the bar's owners didn't like her style of dress, saying her appearance was "too Midwest conservative, not California hooker," the lawsuit alleges.
Lambert said she was fired at the end of the meeting.
She is seeking unspecified damages. Kings Head has yet to publicly comment on the suit.
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