LOS ANGELES, CA (8/5/14)

A Los Angeles Superior Court Jury rendered a verdict in favor of The Beverly Hills Hotel and its former General Manager Alberto del Hoyo, defendants in a lawsuit by former Area Director of Sales Tim Dupree, Sommelier Niño O’Brien and former Hostess Wendy Giron. Plaintiffs sought $12.5 million in economic, emotional distress and punitive damages. The jury awarded the plaintiffs nothing. 

Originally, five plaintiffs filed this lawsuit on June 8, 2011, claiming sexual harassment, sexual battery, failure to train and prevent sexual harassment, sexual favoritism, national origin discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination and wrongful termination. Two plaintiffs dismissed before trial include former Director of Food & Beverage Robert Allen Sulatycky and former Hostess Kelly Morales. 

Arch Stokes, attorney for the defendants, argued that “this is a scam of mudslinging of a great hotelier and a great hotel for the purpose of getting money.” 

Judge F. Stephen Czuleger, an experienced “Long Cause Department” Judge, presided over the jury trial, which lasted from July 8th until verdict for the defense was issued August 5th. 

The trial consisted of testimony from fifty (50) witnesses, as well as thousands of pages of exhibits and discovery materials, 

 The defense trial team from Stokes Wagner Hunt Maretz & Terrell included Arch Stokes, Peter Maretz, Hayden Pace, Diana Lerma and Eleanor McCloskey. Others on the defense team from the firm included John Hunt, Shirley Gauvin, Ann-Marie Mizel, Jacque Godoy, Ashley Lee and Leanna Pierce.

Case Information:

Name: Tim Dupree, et al., v. Sajahtera, Inc., et al.,  Case No: BC463162;  Los Angeles Superior Court, Central,  Hon. J. Stephen Czuleger;  Case Filed: June 8, 2011;  Nature of Suit: Harassment, Discrimination, Sexual Battery 

Download a PDF of this release here.