N.J. judge rules casino can limit weight gain of cocktail servers
A New Jersey judge ruled in favor of an Atlantic City, N.J., casino saying its weight limits for cocktail servers were reasonable.
Twenty-two cocktail servers, known as “Borgata babes,” sued their employer, Borgata Hotel and Casino, alleging weight discrimination.
According to the Press of Atlantic City, the women said they were subjected to periodic weigh-ins and could be disciplined if they gained more than 7% of their body weight. For a 130-pound woman, that would mean she wouldn’t be allowed to gain more than 9 pounds.
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New Jersey Superior Court Judge Nelson Johnson wrote last week in his ruling that the “Borgata Babe program has a sufficient level of trapping and adornments to render its participants akin to ‘sex objects’ to the Borgata’s patrons.”
He said the women who sued “cannot shed the label babe” because they “embraced it when they went to work for Borgata.”
Casino executives said they were pleased with Johnson’s ruling on the matter.
“We have long held that Borgata’s personal appearance policy is lawful and reasonable,” said Joe Lupo, vice president of operations for the casino.
“The court noted that our personal appearance standards are fully and openly disclosed to all team members and that every plaintiff voluntarily accepted them before starting work.”
The Press of Atlantic City reported that more than 4,000 applicants tried to snag a job as a Borgata babe during the initial hiring process. A brochure said the position was “part fashion model, part beverage server, part charming host and hostess. All impossibly lovely.”
A receptionist at the attorney’s office that represented the plaintiffs said the lead attorney was unavailable to comment on the ruling.
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ricardo.lopez@latimes.com
