Kimberlee Ouwroulis has filed an interesting lawsuit in Canada alleging age discrimination. Owroulis is a stripper and claims that she was fired at 44 due to her age. The question is whether age is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification for a stripper.
We appear to be collecting a growing number of stripper tort and civil lawsuits. I have heard of forum non conveniens, but this would be form non conveniens.
On its face, age should presumably not be a BFOQ but appearance would be. A more difficult question has arisen with regard to anchors where female anchors have sued over being fired for younger women while television stations argue that appearance is a big part of the job. Click here and here. There has also been discrimination lawsuit filed with the EEOC over Hooters hiring woman on the basis of their looks, here.
Ouwroulis has filed her complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. She alleges that the club “told me that the club is going in a new direction with younger girls. That’s age discrimination to me.” Perhaps. Perhaps not. If a “different direction” is a polite way of saying “better looking,” it would seem a valid employment decision for a stripper as opposed to other jobs like a librarian or a taxidermist.
The defendant in the case is John Sit, owner of the New Locomotion Strip Club. Ouwroulis argues the Old Locomotion was just fine with customers.
For a recent interview with Ouwroulis, click here.
Ouwroulis worked at Locomotion for most of those four years and is now employed at a Pickering-area strip club. The fact that she is still employed as a stripper would presumably help her case in seeking damages of $100,000. (She earned $8000 a month at the club or $96,000 a year).
For the full story, click here.
As long as she can hold her end up (top and bottom), then why would her age matter?
What I find interesting, and amusing, is the visual of her presenting her evidence that her age should not matter.
Clubs are dark so wrinkles and softness in the skin should not matter. But what of those things that jiggle and wiggle? Are firmness and rounded shapeliness considerations? Should the sag be overlooked? What about all those other things about which semi-polite men do not normally inquire in mixed company?
What exactly do canadian laws say about this issue?
Well Kimberlee if it really is you, and I have no reason to doubt it, I thank you for reminding us that none of us can judge another’s life without having lived it. It really is too easy to criticize, and I stand more guilty than most. I wish you well in your suit.
Hey; it’s me Kimberlee
*I had a car crash 20 years ago which killed my mother & step father; who worked for ministry of housing, and was an ordained minister. I had a great job on the trading floor at the stock exchange however after I survived various injuries I was on disability for a time. After I left my ex husband and terrible marriage it was; I had to start over again; sorry I needed money. There is so much I’d like to say; because there is alot written; please see c.b.c. website etc.
Thanks Kimberlee. I know it’s hard to to pic on my choice of career.
Prof. Turley,
Good luck on the pending opinion. As to our pasties friend, $100,000 is a damn good job. I wonder if she gets medical with that?
Bob:
Funny you should ask. I had the oral argument this morning before the D.C. Circuit in the case. It went quite well, I think. Of course, one never really knows until you see the opinion.
JT
I don’t think any amount of money could entice me to strip.
Especially after one little event I remember while at a truck stop here in Indiana.
We had stopped at a little gas station with a little hotel on the property. Just across the road was three or four strip clubs.
I was sitting in my car when I watched three dirty scruffy (probably smelly) men walk from their semi trucks and talk about the kind of action they would see in “Brandy’s” (one of the strip joints).
Creeped me out. Dirty old men is all I can say
Speaking of age discrimination; what’s the status on the FAA mandatory retirement law case?
Sally:
At roughly $100,000, she probably would say it is as real as job as she would want.
This is a good website. It presents information and voices we don’t usually hear in our society.
http://www.catwinternational.org/index.php
JT: We could easily accommodate a strip joint[tortfeasors] class.
You would come under withering attack. You would have to retreat into Fort Jointteasers.
This is hilarious.
Maybe she should have thought about getting a real job twenty years ago. Then this may not have been an issue.
Let this be a lesson for all those younger stripper girls.
Your keen intellect and wittiness are admirable qualities.
Thanks for being a good sport.
We could easily accommodate a strip joint[tortfeasors] class.
Just wondering/musing, are there legal specialty courses in stripper tort at GWU Law School? Alternatively, can any run-of-the-mill lawyer handle these unique cases?
I have always wondered why a guy would specialize in the rather dry/dull tax law–or for that matter, constitutional law–if this or similar specialties were available; however I am sure money is one of the main impetuses. Regarding a constitutional law predisposition, that most assuredly hinges on one’s overwhelming altruistic nature towards societal justice.
Now, I am too old to attend law school, but if I were not…