HOUSTON – A Humble gentlemen’s club employee is suing her employer after an alleged brawl at the establishment caused her to flee and suffer injuries.
Cindy Valdez’s lawsuit against Mile High Club; Runway Hospitality, LLC, doing business as Mie High Club; and her supervisor Alexander Trapote recalls the subject business becoming overcrowded during a party last June 17.
According to recent court documents filed on Oct. 23 in the Harris County 125th District Court, a fight then erupted between a group of patrons and another group of people including Trapote. Other club patrons and employees, including the plaintiff, went for the exits “in a panic” as the fight escalated, the suit says.
Valdez recalls security personnel indiscriminately pepper-praying the fleeing crowd and herself, claiming she had difficulty seeing as she tried to get out.
“The plaintiff eventually made her way out of the back door of the club, where she stepped on an area of uneven, unfinished, or otherwise dangerous pavement or walkway, falling and suffering serious personal injuries to her leg and ankle, which required medical treatment,” the original petition states.
Valdez also alleges that the respondents misclassified her as an independent contractor though she has worked more than 40 hours. The complaint says she was not properly compensated for those hours.
A jury trial is requested.
Attorneys Kelly E. Cook and Warren A. Berlanga of the law firm Wyly & Cook, PLLC in Houston are representing Valdez.
Harris County 125th District Court Case No. 2017-71554