On Sunday, June 3, 2018, Wigdor LLP filed a sexual assault and retaliation lawsuit on behalf of a former bottle server who alleges she was drugged and raped by her manager at Paul’s Casablanca, a New York City nightclub co-owned by Paul Sevigny, brother of famous actress Chloë Sevigny. Named Defendants are the nightclub’s parent company Sway Lounge, LLC, co-owners Paul Sevigny and Brian McPeck and the club’s former general manager, Joshua Menendez.
As alleged in the Complaint, Plaintiff was drugged and raped by Mr. Menendez after finishing a shift in October 2017. When she finally gained the courage to report the rape to the club’s ownership, Defendants retaliated against her by substantially cutting her work hours, including her most profitable shifts, while Mr. Menendez’s job remained unaffected.
The Complaint further alleges that just three days before Plaintiff was scheduled to meet with the nightclub’s owners to discuss the sexual assault, Mr. Menendez unsuccessfully attempted to make his victim sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement – a transparent attempt by the club’s management to silence and intimidate her from reporting the assault.
Despite promising to investigate the incident, Mr. Sevigny and Mr. McPeck ultimately hired an unqualified event security company to perform a sham investigation, according to the Complaint. After weeks of failing to take any action against Mr. Menendez, it was not until the nightclub learned that Plaintiff had obtained legal counsel that it terminated Mr. Menendez’s employment, an obvious attempt to shield itself from legal liability.
A rape lawsuit filed by @WigdorLaw on behalf of a female server at Paul's Casablanca—the NYC nightclub owned by actress Chloë Sevigny's brother—alleges the club took inappropriate & retaliatory action after our client reported being raped by the club's GM. https://t.co/l7KIewxFbK
— WigdorLaw (@WigdorLaw) June 4, 2018
Plaintiff is represented by Wigdor LLP Partner Michael J. Willemin
Statement from Michael J. Willemin, Partner at Wigdor LLP:
“This sort of conduct is exactly why many women who have been sexually assaulted or raped are afraid to come forward, and our client hopes that this lawsuit will help women who have been subjected to such conduct to feel more comfortable coming forward.”
NY Post
“Server sues over allege rape by manager at Paul Sevigny’s Soho club”
June 4, 2018
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Law and Crime
“Lawsuit: Chloe Sevigny’s Brother Retaliated Against Nightclub Staffer Who Claimed General Manager Raped Her”
June 4, 2018
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NY Daily News
“Bottle server at SoHo nightclub Paul’s Casablanca drugged, raped by general manager: suit”
June 4, 2018
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Daily Mail
“Bottle server at club owned by Chloe Sevigny’s brother was ‘brutally raped’ by manager who left her bloody and bruised states lawsuit, which claims she lost work when she told bosses”
June 4, 2018
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