Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Harassment at Strip Club!
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 5, 2010
Modified Feb 5, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 5, 2010
Modified Feb 5, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In a shocking allegation, a former cocktail waitress at the Penthouse Executive Club claims the managers cultivated an unprofessional atmosphere of sordid sexual degradation. Lourdes Garcia, 34, filed a lawsuit against the club yesterday, accusing the owner of firing her after she repeatedly rebuffed the sexual of advances of both male and female managers. Club manager John Loukas "repeatedly" invited Garcia into his office, "implying that he wanted to have a sexual relationship," according to court papers. Loukas allegedly "told (Garcia) ‘if you want me to help you, you have to help me. There are no cameras up here."
Garcia also claims that early last year general manager Kelly Gerald-Hughes began to "repeatedly touch (her) in a sexual manner on her legs and thighs" early last year. It's being alleged that Gerald-Hughes did more "performing" in the VIP rooms than managing, and offered to make out with Garcia "in front of the customers for a fee." Gerald-Hughes also allegedly made remarks about the size of Garcia's breasts in front of customers and stroked her leg in a VIP room. Who knew this kind of stuff went on at strip clubs?
Garcia says she was "humiliated and degraded," and when she complained "on more than one occasion" to club owner Robert Gans, Gerald-Hughes allegedly told her she had "significant influence" over Penthouse Club CEO Mark Yackow. She was fired two weeks before Christmas after being accused of "stealing a few bucks" and tells the Daily News, "They couldn't look me in the eye. I was loyal to them, and this is how they treat me." The club hasn't commented yet, but we'll keep you posted on this and all other strip club lawsuits as they develop.
Tagged
lawsuit
penthouse executive club
strip club
suing
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
More than 122,000 cases are being recalled over undeclared food dyes.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 4:36 p.m. ET
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
By
Elizabeth Kim
Dominican man who shot border patrol officer in NYC sentenced to 15 years in prison
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .