Lawsuit: Age bias in firing of Houston strip-club waitress EEOC says age bias behind firing of strip-club waitress

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued a strip club business, alleging the Houston company fired a waitress because of her age.

Mary Bassi, who was 56 at the time of her termination, worked at Cover Girls, where she was allegedly subjected to disparaging remarks. According to the lawsuit, which was filed last week in federal court, she was frequently called “old” by managers and endured comments about experiencing menopause and showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lauren Serper, an employment lawyer representing AHD Houston, said she hasn’t seen a copy of the lawsuit and didn’t want to discuss the details.

But she said the club has strict anti-discrimination policies, has zero tolerance for violations and intends to vigorously defend the case.

Serper said she was also surprised by the filing because June was the last time she had heard from the EEOC about the case.

Bassi, who did not want to comment on the case, had worked as a waitress for AHD Houston and its affiliated enterprises since 1993. Before she worked at Cover Girls, she worked at Centerfolds, according to the EEOC.

“She made a lot of money, her customers liked her, and she sold a lot of liquor,” said Connie Wilhite, the EEOC lawyer in charge of the case. Wilhite said Bassi earned in the high five figures or low six figures as a full-time server until she was terminated in 2006.

Wilhite said that about a year earlier, Cover Girls began to hire younger women and gave them the shifts that Bassi normally worked.

AHD Houston and its affiliated enterprises own five strip clubs including Centerfolds, Treasures, Gold Cup, Trophy Club and Spendor, said Wilhite.

Cover Girls burned down in 2007 and hasn’t been rebuilt.

Bassi, now 59, is working as a waitress for a competitor, Wilhite said.

“It doesn’t matter what industry you work in,” Wilhite said. “You are still protected by anti-discrimination laws.”

lm.sixel@chron.com