“Borgata Babes“ settle discrimination suit

Two former cocktail waitresses have settled their discrimination suit against the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City's most opulent attraction.

Renee Gaud, 38, and Trisha Hart, 30, had sought $70 million in damages, claiming that the Borgata fostered "a sexual and gender-hostile environment and sex discrimination."

The suit was settled without fanfare July 15. The terms have not been disclosed.

Gaud and Hart were two of approximately 250 servers the casino calls the "Borgata Babes."

Attorneys for the women did not comment.

The casino also declined comment.

"That's not something we will discuss publicly," Borgata spokesman Michael Facenda said. "It's a legal matter between the company and those folks."

In 2006, the casino issued an edict prohibiting servers and bartenders from gaining more than 7 percent of the weight at which they were hired.

Gaud, who formerly lived in Mays Landing, Atlantic County, and now resides in Vancouver, Canada, alleged that casino managers harassed her after a thyroid condition made it difficult to control her weight. She resigned in 2005, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

Hart, 30, of Wenonah, Gloucester County, was fired from the Borgata after she failed a drug test, the paper reported.

The women's attorneys had argued that the Borgata's weight-gain policy had nothing to do with their competence to do their jobs.

Management had countered that the servers were "ambassadors" and a key part of Borgata entertainment.

In the 23-page suit, filed in January 2006, Gaud and Hart acknowledged they had signed consent forms promising to keep a "clean smile, an hourglass figure and be height- and weight-appropriate" when they were hired.