Hooters press conference
By Steve Neavling, Detroit Free Press
Just hours after Mike McNeil, vice president of marketing for Hooters of America, defended the Atlanta-based chain during a news conference at the Roseville Hooters Wednesday, a second waitress from the Roseville restaurant filed a weight discrimnation suit. "We are very proud of the Hooters' girls' image," McNeil said, defending the Hooters brand against a recent lawsuit filed by 20-year-old Cassie Smith, who says she was discriminated against due to her weight. McNeil called Smith's lawsuit "baseless and self-serving" and said the restaurant chain has the right to uphold image standards because the waitresses are entertainers.
The latest lawsuit in Macomb County Circuit Court says Hooters fired Leanne Convery for failing to lose sufficient weight in August 2009. The suit comes less than two weeks after 20-year-old Cassie Smith filed suit against Hooters of America, claiming the restaurant placed her on weight probation. For further the latest updates on the Hooters lawsuits, freep.com.
