• 20
  • December
    2010

A former lead massage therapist at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village recently filed a lawsuit alleging a number of employment-based claims including wrongful termination, retaliation, and sexual harassment.

According to the former employee bringing the lawsuit, he was demoted and eventually forced out of his job for not going along with a supervisor's requests to give a certain massage therapist preferential treatment. The lawsuit allegedly claims that the supervisor was engaged in a romantic relationship with one of the massage therapists and consequently pressured the lead massage therapist to provide favorable treatment to her, including making sure other therapists where not paid more than her.

After refusing the supervisor's request and making a complaint to the human resources director, the lead therapist claims he was demoted and ultimately felt forced to leave his job. The employee claimed he was told by a supervisor that the hotel was looking for a "more positive team." The employee appears to be claiming these actions were taken in retaliation for not acting in accordance with the supervisor's wishes.

With the lawsuit, the employee is said to be seeking both compensatory and punitive damages for wrongful termination, retaliation, defamation, and sexual harassment. It is not clear, but the damages sought could include lost wages as well as damages to his reputation.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village subject of sexual harassment lawsuit, Stuart Pfeifer 12/13/10