Oregon awards $1M to second underage dancer at strip club

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries has proposed a $1 million award to a second woman who worked at a Beaverton strip club while underage.

The agency began an investigation in 2015, alleging civil rights violations against two minors who worked at Stars Cabaret.

The club recently agreed to pay $1.25 million to a dancer it employed in 2012 when she was 13.

The proposed order filed Wednesday says Stars Cabaret and a manager are jointly liable for sexual harassment of the second victim, who was 15 when she worked there.

The club and the manager are allowed to file objections to the proposed order.

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Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian today issued a statement following the agency’s Proposed Order in the Stars Cabaret civil rights case that awards the second victim $1 million in damages for sex harassment and discrimination at the Beaverton club.

BOLI initiated an investigation after Commissioner Avakian filed a Commissioner’s Complaint in 2015 alleging civil rights violations against two underage employees working as adult entertainers.

The Proposed Order finds Stars Cabaret (Freehoo, Inc.) and Stars manager Jon Herkenrath jointly and severally liable for the unlawful conduct.

The Deputy Commissioner will issue a Final Order after both parties have the opportunity to file exceptions in the case.

An earlier $1.25 million settlement for the first victim, at the time a 13-year old minor, represented the largest individual settlement in the agency’s history.

“No person should ever be subjected to what this young woman experienced. Today ‘s Proposed Order begins to address this injustice by holding Stars accountable and awarding damages that reflect the severity of harassment,” said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian.

Copies of the Commissioner’s Complaint and Proposed Order are available online here .

Any worker who believes that they are being harassed or discriminated against can start the civil rights complaint process by contacting the Civil Rights Division at crdemail@boli.state.or.us or by calling 971-673-0764 . BOLI’s live entertainment hotline at 1-844-304-2654 also can provide workers information about retaliation, sex discrimination, harassment, unlawful wage practices and a host of other workplace protections. Callers to the toll-free hotline may request confidentiality.

Visit www.oregon.gov/BOLI for more information about all of BOLI’s work to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination.