The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the Pioneer Hotel and Gambling Hall in Laughlin on Friday, charging Latino workers were harassed based on their ethnicity.
The suit said harassment has occurred since at least November 2006 and harmed a worker at the time, Raymond Duarte, as well as a group of similarly situated workers.
"Defendants subjected Charging Party (Duarte) and a class of individuals to unwelcome and unwanted verbal and physical harassment by co-workers and supervisors. The severe harassment included but is not limited to derogatory name calling ... as well as allegations that Mexicans are 'lazy' and 'worthless,'" the lawsuit charged.
The suit, filed in federal court in Las Vegas, says the company was aware of the problem because of multiple complaints made by Duarte, but "failed to take prompt and effective remedial action to prevent and correct the discriminatory practice."
The suit also charges Duarte was unlawfully fired after complaining about being the target of discrimination.
The affected workers "have suffered emotional pain, suffering, humiliation, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life and damages, all to be proven at trial," charges the suit, which seeks back pay for Duarte and an injunction barring the company from discriminating against Latinos.
A request for comment was placed with the Pioneer.