LAS VEGAS -- A potentially explosive lawsuit filed against the premier nightclub operator in Las Vegas has been settled out of court.
As first reported earlier this year by the 8 News NOW I-Team, former employees of the Light Group say they were fed a steady diet of booze and drugs and that female employees were expected to sleep with high roller customers.
If the matter had been heard in court, the Light Group would have been subjected to weeks of scandalous testimony from at least half-a-dozen former employees, each of them alleging an ongoing pattern of rampant drug use, excessive boozing, and sexual activity worthy of a Roman orgy, but it appears a quiet settlement has been reached with all parties, though no one will comment.
The allegations surfaced in January when the I-Team interviewed a former Light Group cocktail waitress who filed the lawsuit. The woman, who was referred to as Jane Doe, claimed she had been groomed to work for the company while still a teenager, was fed a steady supply of drugs and booze by her managers, and then after working in two of the Light Group's 15 local operations, was encouraged to engage in sexual activity with customers, and sometimes with fellow employees.
Read the lawsuit against Light Group
Read the dismissal order
Jane Doe says she almost died after a five day runner of cocaine and alcohol. Half-a-dozen other Light Group employees joined Jane Doe's lawsuit, alleging that female employees faced constant sexual harassment, were expected to act as sexual play things for high rollers, and were flown out of town to sleep with wealthy club patrons, in particular, Arab millionaires.
"Sex is encouraged. Once a girl engages in that behavior with a client, management will expect it from you so it happens again and again. Once you do it, you show you are willing to be a company girl. They love that," Jane Doe told 8 News NOW.
"This is their business plan. This is not just one rogue employee. It's from the owner on down through the hosts and managers. Everyone is engaged in this activity and they all make it clear to these girls that if you don't want what we want, you will be fired because there's 50 girls waiting to take your place," said Al Marquis, Jane Doe's attorney.
Attorney Al Marquis declined to comment whatsoever about the status of the lawsuit. The Light Group also declined.
However, the I-Team obtained the order, signed by the presiding federal judge, that essentially ended the case. It does not specify what kind of settlement was reached so we have to read between the lines a bit. When the lawyer who filed the suit won't talk about it, chances are the settlement included a confidentiality agreement. The settlement also means the company will not be subjected to weeks of embarrassing testimony and the potential for additional employees to come forward. Whether it is a coincidence or not, in the same week the judge dissolved the case, the Light Group reshuffled its upper management. It announced the appointment of a new chief operating officer and chief financial officer.
What we don't know is whether the high profile allegations led to any changes within the Light Group's nightclubs. The company vigorously denied the allegations when our stories first aired.
