Disney is no stranger to lawsuits. In 2 separate lawsuits filed, 6 past and present security employees are suing Disney World citing different forms of discrimination. There have been quite a few complaints over the last few years from others employed in that position as well.
Disney World employs has more than 1,000 security employees.
These suits have been filed in Orange County between 2011 to 2014. They claim they were targeted and harassed because of their race, religion, or where they came from. So far a jury has ruled against 1 plaintiff and 3 lawsuits were voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiffs themselves.
Disney has of course denied the allegations. “We have a rigorous process in place to thoroughly and independently review any and all workplace issues,” spokeswoman Kim Prunty said in an emailed statement. “These lawsuits are baseless and without merit.”
The lawsuits are as follows:
- Camelia Joseph, a black Haitian woman who works at Disney as a security guard. She says she applied for a job in 2010 as an emergency coordinator but the position went to a white man with less experience and education. She has started an online fundraiser for her legal bills.
- Nabil Boromi, a plain clothes operative who was fired in 2013 for “using electronic devices” while monitoring security cameras. Boromi, is Moroccan and Muslim, and claims that he was held to a higher standard than others. The suit claims that others were not fired for the same exact behavior. He says he “complained about Arabic patrons being treated with greater suspicion whenever they entered the park” and that officers were instructed to watch black customers “because they were known for stealing. Disney denies this.
Both Boromi and Joseph are represented by Orlando attorney Jerry Girley. The other four were represented by Jacksonville attorney David Sacks.
Several of the complaints have been made by longtime Disney employees.
Back in 2011 these plaintiffs dismissed their own lawsuits.
- Security manager Sharon Cardinez, a foreign-born black woman, said she endured “racially insensitive” remarks. She also claims that she had to produce a death certificate to prove her brothers death in order to get bereavement leave, which she claims white employees did not have to do. She said she dropped her lawsuit because it was getting too expensive and harder to keep up with while dealing with deaths in the family.
- Marissa Rivera, was terminated. She said a co-worker repeatedly used racial slurs toward her.
- Elaina Evans, who worked at Disney about 30 years, claimed racial discrimination. Evans, who is black, said she was moved without explanation from resorts to parks in 2009. She claims she was given heavier workloads than other security managers and also given menial tasks compared with her white male co-workers. She withdrew her case in 2013, she said because of issues with a personal bankruptcy.
Thoughts?
Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust
Maria
