New York Civil Rights Violation Lawyer Investigates Racial Discrimination Complaint Against 'Real Housewives' Spa Owner

NEW YORK, NY, June 22, 2011 (Press-News.org) Very few people receive more scrutiny than a celebrity.

"Real Housewives of New York City" cast member Cindy Barshop, owner of "Completely Bare" spas, was accused of racial discrimination. According to the New York Post, the former employee, the only black beautician at the store, claimed she was bullied and fired because she is black.

"Although racial discrimination is difficult to prove, the fact that none of Barshop's other employees are black will be used against her," said New York civil rights violation lawyer David Perecman.

Altovise Collier, the 25-year-old aesthetician who filed the civil rights violation lawsuit, said other employees were "very impressed" with her until they saw her. Collier had applied online and was interviewed by phone. According to Collier, her employers were unaware of her skin color until her first day of work at the Fifth Avenue flagship.

In her racial discrimination lawsuit, Collier also claimed that Barshop underpaid her, paying her only about half of her $700 weekly salary. To further complicate matters, Collier said she was paid in cash and her lack of a pay stub made it close to impossible for her to rent an apartment after relocating from Atlanta to New York for the job.

She also said co-workers withheld critical training information from her and joked that Collier was hired only to "inject some color" into the spa on more than one occasion.

Allegedly, Collier was fired shortly after she complained about the racial discrimination directly to Barshop.

Barshop filed her race discrimination lawsuit with the New York State Division of Human Rights.

Race discrimination in the workplace is illegal under Federal, New York State, and New York City law. The New York State Division of Human Rights and New York City Commission on Civil Rights are the administrative agencies that enforce state and local civil rights laws prohibiting racial discrimination in the workplace.

As reported by the New York Daily News, Barshop denied all charges of race discrimination. She said Collier was fired "because of the quality of her work."

"It is extremely rare for an employer who discriminates to directly admit that race is a factor in their employment decision. Race discrimination in the workplace must often be proven circumstantially in New York," civil rights violation lawyer Perecman said. "Because this civil rights violation can be difficult to prove, it is important to have a New York civil rights violation lawyer who thoroughly understands race discrimination law as it pertains to the workplace."

Race discrimination in the workplace is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In all cases, it is unlawful to retaliate against a worker who complains of race discrimination in the workplace in New York. If an employer fires, demotes, or otherwise punishes an employee for a civil rights violation complaint, a New York civil rights violation lawyer can help the victim recover compensation for the retaliation.

If a person believes that he or she may be the victim of race discrimination or any other civil rights violation, they should contact The Perecman Firm so that experienced New York civil rights violation lawyers may assess the situation and provide legal advice on race discrimination and employment practices.

About David Perecman and The Perecman Firm, PLLC:

For the past 30 years, the personal injury accident, medical malpractice, construction accident, and auto accident lawyers at The Perecman Firm, PLLC have championed all types of cases concerning personal injury. David Perecman, founder of the Firm, is a
Board Director and the past Secretary and Treasurer of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and a chair of its Labor Law Committee. Mr. Perecman's achievements have brought him recognition as an Honoree in the National Law Journal's
Hall of Fame, in New York Magazine's "The Best Lawyers in America" and The New York Times Magazine "New York Super Lawyers, Metro Edition" for the years 2007-2010.

http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2010/12/02/price

The Firm has recovered millions of dollars for its clients. Among the more recent victories, Mr. Perecman won a $15 million verdict* for a construction accident, a $5.35 million dollar verdict** for an automobile accident, and a $40 million dollar structured settlement for medical malpractice***.

*later settled while on appeal for $7.940 million
** later settled for $3.5 million