After a week of deliberation, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate decided to award Five African-American dancers more than $3 million for back pay and suffering while working in Danny’s downtown Cabaret.
What We Know:
- According to the New York Daily News, Danny’s was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission years ago for limiting the hours of black dancers, and fining them $25 for missing a shift, while white strippers had more flexible schedules.
- The owners of the club used racial slurs against black dancers and forced them to work at another club they owned, Black Diamonds, where the conditions were worse and the dancers were paid less, according to the EEOC.
- A press release from the EEOC, the discrimination had been happening for at least eight years.
- The verdict includes $1.5 million in punitive damages, $1.68 million in compensatory damages, and $130,550 in back-pay. Jurors decided the women would split the money.
The attorney for the strip club, Billy Walter, said he will ask the judge to reduce the award, but plans to appeal if the Wingate disagrees.
