TAMPA – A former bartender has filed an age discrimination lawsuit against Hooters.
Laura A. Aplin filed her complaint February 8 in federal court against Hooters of America LLC.
“Ms. Aplin is very popular and highly capable bartender with many years of experience,” attorney Kyle J. Lee told The Florida Record. “Over the years, she formed meaningful relationships with customers which directly resulted in increased sales for Hooters.
“Despite her abilities, Hooters judged Ms. Aplin based on her age and nothing more.”
According to the complaint, Aplin began working for Hooters in 1995. In 2009, she became a bartender with the company. She worked at a Hooters location in Lakeland.
On January 24, 2023, Aplin says she was told she would need to audition and submit a photo to the corporate office to remain employed as a bartender. She submitted the photo as required, and she was demoted from bartender to server on March 31.
Aplin, who is 49, says her bartender position was filled by a younger woman less than 40 years old with less experience. She says other bartenders over 40 at the Lakeland location also were replaced by younger ones.
“Plaintiff performed her duties as a bartender at a high level and was not subjected to any significant performance-based disciplinary actions during her employment,” the complaint states. “Defendant did not have any legitimate non-discriminatory reason to demote plaintiff from bartender to server.”
Aplin says she was damaged emotionally and financially by the demotion.
She accuses Hooters of age discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Aplin seeks compensatory damages, back pay, front pay, punitive damages, court costs, attorney fees and pre-judgment interest.
She is being represented by Lee of Lee Law in Brandon.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida case number 8:24-cv-00373