In one instance when Cagnina was named general manager and given an award, the lawsuit claims, Leukert said in front of staff that he told his assistant to write “Pgay” on the award instead of Cagnina’s name, P.J. Hooters launched an investigation and fired Leukert a few months later, according to reports.īut Peterson soon was dismissed as well, which his attorney claims was retaliation for complaining about Leukert’s conduct.Ĭagnina also is no longer employed by Hooters, though the circumstances of his departure are unclear, according to news reports.Ĭagnina and Peterson’s lawsuit contains a string of allegations of Leukert behaving inappropriately toward employees. The lawsuit alleges that Leukert threw Cagnina to the ground in the parking lot after a bikini contest in Costa Mesa and forcibly simulated sodomy in front of spectators, according to news reports. We have no independent knowledge of the facts and are therefore unable to comment.” In a statement Thursday to the Daily Mail, the Atlanta-based company said: “This matter involves a franchised location and its employees in California. It also seeks a court order that would force Hooters, known for its scantily clad servers, to end sexual harassment in its workplace. The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, names Hooters of America and Rick Leukert, former chief executive of West Coast Hooters, as defendants. The complaint by Paul Cagnina and Scott Peterson, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims they were repeatedly humiliated and belittled in front of their colleagues at several Hooters locations in California, including Costa Mesa, downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood. Two male former Hooters employees who were managers at the restaurant chain’s Costa Mesa location and others filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit Tuesday against the company and their former boss.
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