Lawsuit Alleges that Extended Stay America’s Discriminatory Practices Repeatedly Exposed Employee to Crime, Violence, and Threats of Violence
Finley Employment Law and Renee Amador Law Office Represent Former Extended Stay America Employee Accusing Extended Stay America of Illegal Employment Practices
January 16, 2025 (Sacramento, California): Kyung Finley of Finley Employment Law and Renee Amador of Renee Amador Law Office, Inc. announced today the filing of a lawsuit against ESA Management, LLC and Extended Stay America, Inc. (collectively, “Extended Stay America”).
Among other things, the lawsuit, Nicole Hart v. ESA Management, LLC and Extended Stay America, Inc. (Sacramento Superior Court Case No. 25CV001209), alleges that in violation of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, Extended Stay America discriminated against Ms. Hart, an African-American female, by forcing her to work in dangerous, sometimes life-threatening, conditions without even the most basic safety measures in place, such as plexiglass or a 24-hour, on-site security guard.
The lawsuit further alleges that Extended Stay America’s unlawful discriminatory practices and unlawful discriminatory treatment of Ms. Hart culminated in tragedy on the evening of November 10, 2024, when an intoxicated man fatally stabbed Ms. Hart’s fiancé (the “November 10, 2024 Murder”) while Ms. Hart was the sole employee working at an Extended Stay America hotel located at 2810 Gateway Oaks Drive in Sacramento, California (“ESA South Natomas”) without any security guard on the premises.
The lawsuit also alleges that prior to the November 10, 2024 Murder, Extended Stay America had knowledge of ESA South Natomas’s violent and dangerous environment but required Ms. Hart to work at the front desk without even the most basic safety measures in place.
The lawsuit further alleges that Extended Stay America constructively terminated Ms. Hart’s employment on December 2, 2024.
Speaking about the lawsuit, Ms. Hart’s attorney, Kyung Finley, stated, “California law is clear: it is illegal for California employers to discriminate against an employee because of the employee’s race or sex/gender and to require an employee to work in an unsafe workplace.”
Anyone who wishes to learn more about Nicole Hart v. ESA Management, LLC and Extended Stay America, Inc. (Sacramento Superior Court Case No. 25CV001209) can review the full complaint here.
Similarly, if you are a witness or have information that would be relevant to the claims of Ms. Hart or wish to know more about the lawsuit, please contact Kyung Finley at (916) 612-0326 or kyung@finleyemplaw.com or Renee Amador at (818) 614-6294 or [email protected].