Oct 3 2019
Suit details sexual harassment from restaurant manager and termination from the company for false reasons
Hartford, CT (October 3, 2019) – Two former employees of Maggie McFly’s, a restaurant chain based in Connecticut, announced today that they have filed a discrimination suit against the company.
Gianna Aconfora and Maizzy Douchette allege that they were sexually harassed and assaulted by a restaurant manager while employed as servers at Maggie McFly’s’ location in Manchester, and that they were both terminated from their positions after complaining to management about the harassment and assaults.
“Ms. Aconfora and Ms. Douchette allege that they were subject to comments and actions that more than meet the standard of sexual harassment under Connecticut law,” said Joshua R. Goodbaum, a partner at Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, P.C. who, along with Elisabeth J. Lee, is representing Ms. Aconfora and Ms. Douchette. “Both did the right thing in reporting the harassment, and both were terminated by the company. This lawsuit charges Maggie McFly’s with protecting a predator and treating his victims like they were the perpetrators.”
According to the suit, Maggie McFly’s’ manager Daniel Therian forced Ms. Aconfora and Ms. Douchette to endure pervasive sexual harassment. Mr. Therian used graphic language to discuss his own and their sexual relationships; he made obscene comments about their breasts, genitals, and buttocks; he repeatedly and inappropriately touched their bodies; he made “jokes” about raping them; and he more than once resorted to violence, including slapping Ms. Aconfora across the face and squeezing Ms. Douchette around the throat.
“I never expected to be in this position, but I feel like it’s important to tell my story, along with my fellow server Maizzy Douchette, to be a voice for other women,” said Gianna Aconfora.
Both Ms. Aconfora and Ms. Douchette were employed by Maggie McFly’s restaurant chain in 2017 and 2018. Both experienced the harassment at the restaurant’s location in Manchester.
“Gianna and I were sexually harassed by our manager at Maggie McFly’s, both verbally and physically. He made disgusting comments about our bodies and our personal lives, and he touched both of us inappropriately,” said Ms. Douchette. “When we complained to Maggie McFly’s upper management, we were both fired. We didn’t know where to turn or what to do, but a relative of mine convinced me that we should stick up for ourselves, and that there are people and organizations that would support us.”
The case was filed yesterday, October 2, 2019, and is now pending in Hartford Superior Court, with the docket number HHD-CV-19-6117988S.
Ms. Aconfora and Ms. Douchette are receiving legal and public relations support from TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, which helps defray legal and public relations costs in select cases for those who have experienced sexual harassment or related retaliation in the workplace.
The Fund is housed at and administered by the National Women’s Law Center, an established, national women’s rights legal organization. A network of lawyers and public relations professionals across the country work to provide assistance to those who have experienced harassment or retaliation.
Posted by Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, P.C. in News, Press Releases
Tagged Elisabeth Lee, Joshua Goodbaum
