Simon sued over treatment of Hispanic workers-WEB ONLY

A federal agency has filed a lawsuit against shopping mall owner Simon Property Group Inc., alleging it discriminated against Hispanic employees at its Forum Shops at Caesars on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the civil rights lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. The suit claims the Indianapolis-based company subjected at least four men to a “hostile work environment based on their national origin.”

Simon Property Group spokesman Les Morris said the suit was “without merit.”

“We look forward to vigorously defending ourselves,” he said in a statement.

The company owns the upscale shopping mall connected to Caesars Palace casino-hotel, along with more than 380 properties nationwide, according to its Web site.

The lawsuit says the Hispanic workers were subjected to physical intimidation and derogatory racial slurs.

“Despite having notice of such harassment, defendants failed to take prompt and effective remedial measures,” the lawsuit states.

The EEOC said it is seeking compensation for the employees, as well as an injunction against Simon Property Group barring it from discriminatory practices.

Morris said the allegations were made four years ago by employees in the housekeeping department. He said none of the employees were fired “or suffered any loss of pay or any other adverse employment action.”

The Nevada Equal Rights Commission, a state agency that reviews discrimination complaints, investigated the allegations and found no probable cause, Morris said.

The Nevada commission does not make such findings public, a spokeswoman for the agency said.