LeoPalace Resort to Pay Over $1.4 Million in EEOC National Origin Discrimination Lawsuit

GUAM – LeoPalace Guam Corporation, doing business as LeoPalace Resort, a major hotel and resort on the U.S. territory of Guam, will pay $1,412,500 and provide equitable relief to settle a national origin discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, from as early as 2015, LeoPalace provided non-Japanese employees—including multiple former employees of American national origin—in Guam with less favorable wages, benefits, and terms and conditions of employment compared to employees from Japan who held equal or lesser positions.

Such alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in employment because of national origin. The EEOC filed suit in the District Court for the Territory of Guam (Case No.: 1:25-cv-00004) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its voluntary conciliation process.

In addition to the monetary relief, LeoPalace agreed to comprehensive injunctive relief remedies, including hiring an external equal employment opportunity monitor to oversee compliance, training and review of policies and procedures, as well as overseeing the reinstatement of former employees who are interested in going back to work for LeoPalace. The monitor will also conduct periodic audits and report to the EEOC. The consent decree settling the suit was entered by the Honorable Ramona V. Manglona  of the U.S. District Court for the District of Guam on February 18, 2025, and will remain under the court’s jurisdiction for a term of three years.

EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas said, “Federal anti-discrimination laws ensure equal employment opportunity for jobs performed by all workers regardless of national origin. The President’s Executive Order on Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity recognizes that the longstanding federal civil rights laws serve as a bedrock to support equality of opportunity for all Americans. This case is an important reminder that unlawful national origin discrimination includes discrimination against American workers in favor of foreign workers.”

“We commend Leopalace Guam in choosing to resolve this matter early and for adopting proactive measures to prevent discrimination in the workplace,” said Anna Park, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District, which includes Guam in its district.

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

The EEOC is the sole federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate against businesses and other private sector employers for violations of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. For public sector employers, the EEOC shares jurisdiction with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; the EEOC is responsible for investigating charges against state and local government employers before referring them to DOJ for potential litigation. The EEOC also is responsible for coordinating the federal government’s employment antidiscrimination effort. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.