Imperial Palace pregnancy policy contested by cocktail waitresses in court

LAS VEGAS - Six female cocktail servers who became pregnant while employed at a Strip resort will try to convince a jury this week that they were illegally discriminated against.

The federal case pits the city's long-standing image as an adult playground against recent efforts to make Las Vegas more family friendly.

At the heart of the case is the Imperial Palace hotel-casino policy to move pregnant cocktail waitresses off the casino floor and into lower-paying jobs once their pregnancies began to show.

Though the policy is no longer in effect, the cocktail waitresses are seeking punitive damages and lost wages.

The resort's attorneys claim the policy did not discriminate against pregnant cocktail waitresses, because everyone in that position was required to have a sexy and glamorous appearance.

''The position of casino floor cocktail server at the Imperial Palace is one of the most controlled and sought-after positions we have,'' said attorney Walter Cannon.

Attorneys for both sides presented their opening statements to jurors Wednesday in U.S. District Judge Lloyd George's courtroom.

The cocktail waitresses agreed, when they were hired, to comply with standards regarding their weight, hairstyle, undergarments, shoes and jewelry, Cannon said.

''If they violate those rules, they're asked to leave the floor,'' he said.

Cannon told jurors they must determine whether the central function of a casino cocktail waitress is to be attractive or to serve drinks. Prior experience serving cocktails is not a requirement for the job at the Imperial Palace, he noted.

Daniel Preciado, an attorney with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said the cocktail waitresses involved in the case believed the most important aspects of their job were serving drinks and being friendly.

The federal commission got involved in the case after a local woman, Jennifer Jones, filed a discrimination charge against the resort in 1996, Preciado said.

The commission investigated her claims, determined they had merit, and filed a lawsuit against the Imperial Palace in 1997.

The Imperial Palace changed its policy regarding pregnant cocktail servers in September 1997, court documents show. The new policy allows pregnant servers to wear maternity uniforms when their standard uniforms become tight.