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Press Release 11-15-2024

EEOC Encourages Victims and Witnesses of Harassment at Mariscos El Puerto and La Catrina to Come Forward

Employees Should Contact Federal Agency if They May Have Been Subjected to or Witnessed Harassment

LAS VEGAS – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) encourages victims of or witnesses to sexual harassment of female workers and discrimination and/or harassment of gay and lesbian workers at Mariscos El Puerto restaurant and La Catrina bar in Las Vegas to come forward and report their experiences to the federal agency in connection with the EEOC’s lawsuits against the two companies.

On Aug. 24, 2023, the EEOC filed two lawsuits in federal court against Mariscos El Puerto, Inc. and La Catrina, LLC. One lawsuit alleged egregious sexual harassment of female employees at the restaurant and bar by the owners, managers, and supervisors, including requiring them to engage in sexual activities to maintain their employment. The harassment also included sexual assaults, sexual solicitations, and explicit sexual comments.

The second lawsuit filed on the same day against Mariscos El Puerto, Inc. and La Catrina, LLC alleged that the owners, managers, and supervisors of the restaurant and bar engaged in harassment of gay and lesbian employees which included physical assaults and offensive slurs. The work environment was so toxic that some employees felt they had no choice but to quit, the EEOC said.

The two lawsuits are ongoing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

People who were subjected to, or witnessed, any conduct similar to the above at Mariscos El Puerto restaurant or La Catrina bar, should contact the EEOC by phone or email:

Telephone:     213-785-3032

Email:             mariscoslitigation@eeoc.gov.

For more information about the case, refer to https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-sues-mariscos-el-puerto-and-la-catrina-sexual-harassment-discrimination-and.

Preventing workplace harassment through systemic litigation and investigation is one of the six national priorities identified by the Commission's Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP). For more information on the Commission’s SEP go to: https://www.eeoc.gov/strategic-enforcement-plan-fiscal-years-2024-2028.

For more information on sexual harassment, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment. For more information on discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-sogi-discrimination.

The EEOC’s Los Angeles District includes central and southern California, southern Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands with offices in Los Angeles, Fresno, Las Vegas, San Diego and Honolulu. 

The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates