Lawsuit: Workin' for Trump is No Potty!

One pissed off former employee of Donald Trump's L.A. golf club claims working for his facility is the same as stitching shoes in a foreign sweatshop -- meaning no lunch or bathroom breaks allowed during work hours.
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Former hostess Lucy Messerschmidt is suing the Trump National Golf Club over a number of alleged labor violations, claiming she wasn't given 10-minute paid breaks, 30-minute unpaid lunch breaks or a chance to use the bathroom during her 8-hour shift -- all required by California law.

In the class-action lawsuit filed yesterday in L.A. Superior Court, 45-year-old Lucy also claimed she was fired because of age discrimination. Lucy says she was let go for complaining about her shifts being cut down -- which allegedly happened because a random club manager wanted "fresh faces" and "young girls" working when The Donald came around

Messerschmidt is looking for at least $15,000 in lost wages, damages and fees.

Tags: donald trump, DonaldTrump

Reader Comments

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16. The best companies that are longlasting treat their employees well - and those employees reward the company in turn. Just ask companies like Google and Costco. Trump is bad energy and I can't beleive ANYONE would work for him or around him if they could help it. Mikey: do what you gotta do to get your check. Then search the web for help - look for free legal help....and if I was in your position, I would look for a group that specifically tries to defend and forward the lives of African Americans.....just sayin'

Posted at 11:50PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by Lauren

17. That's why I only work under Union contract!

Posted at 1:16AM on Dec 4th 2008 by Gonzo

18. The best thing about America and the free markets is that if you don't like your job, or are treated unfairly, you can always quit and find a different job.

Posted at 1:50AM on Dec 4th 2008 by poor SOB

19. I use to work at one of Trumps casinos and Iam telling you the truth when I say this Donald Trump is a very kind and decent person one of the employees was in a horrible accident and in a coma Mr Trump went to the family and gave the family thousands of dollars out of his own pocket and gave the family a car so they would not be without. He did tell the family he didnt want this to get out because he didnt want anyone to think he did it for publicity. How do I know thia? Iam the employee.

Posted at 3:08AM on Dec 4th 2008 by reneb

20. This is kinda stupid because it's an isolated case and could be with any company. It just happens to be with Mr. Trump's company. But Mr. Trump has to be careful about being a celebrity and a business. Sounds like with this case, both were intertwined somehow.

Posted at 4:53AM on Dec 4th 2008 by TimelessTrend.com

21. Just remember you are only get one side of the story. She sounds a little bitter to me. If she didn't like the job or bosses find another job and quit.

Posted at 8:16PM on Dec 4th 2008 by KG

22. I wonder if she tried to contact the Trump first, before filing her claim? Poor lady. Finding a job in today's economy is very hard. NO ONE IS HIRING. MOST ARE FIRING ,LAYING OFF PEOPLE OR GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. Especially private owned companies. In Florida Employers can Fire-at-will. I used to work for a company that had the "good ol boy system". Truth is YOU CAN'T FIGHT IT. You either put up with it, get laid off, or try to find another job. I hope she gets her money and finds a decent job.

Posted at 11:59AM on Dec 4th 2008 by Phe

23. Many employees are too scared to speak up at the TNGC in L.A. Worse things have occured and continue to occur there. I've heard many different stories that make perfect sense. The truth is, a server there told me what was going on and how the new managers treat certain people very bad, and I asked, "Why dont you say anything? Don't you have Human Resources to help you?" The server said that it is no use to talk to HR because they always side with the managers, even if it is unfair. Not only that, but fear of retaliation. Whether it's shifts taken off or a write up for any little thing that goes bad. I was shoked to hear what this server had to say. But it made perfect sense after I thought about it. Ever since this new management team joined the facility, I as a loyal guest to the restaurant, have noticed the difference. No one knows who the managers are, they don't come to your table and present themselves or even ask how the evening was. I hope she gets her money, and a word of advice to the Don, get rid of that management team, they're only going to make things worse than they already are. Has he not noticed the decrease in customers....loyal customers?....I don't think it's the Don's fault, but the managers.

Posted at 4:34PM on Dec 4th 2008 by sexy mama

24. I actually used to work for this golf course as an outside service attendant a few months ago until i was fired for being falsely accused of something. The law in california is that Lunch breaks ARE mandatory and are supposed to be enforced by the organization. At Trump, we NEVER had 30-minute unpaid lunch breaks, BUT what this hostess is not telling anyone is that we did have employee meals given out at 430 daily which everyone was entitled to, and we didnt clock out to have these meals. Shes lying when she says that she didnt get bathroom breaks, theres a freakin bathroom right around the corner of where she stands.

Posted at 1:15AM on Dec 13th 2008 by Jaime

25. I have horked with Lucy and things were not exactly how she describes.
All employees have breaks, and are fed by the resturant FOR FREE. Everyday the chef cooks lunch and dinner for all workers, and at 10 AM and 4 PM they serve employee meal. I have worked in many restaurants that I had to pay for my meals.
I was never forbidden to use te bathroom, that's bull.
Her shifts were cut short because she was a PAIN to work with. She would let all coleagues irritated and annoyed, She was extremely perfeccionist, wich is good as long as it doesn't get to everybodys nerves. She would tell on every coleague, she was not a good coworker because she drove everybody crazy. She just not fit the profile.
Sorry LUCY, I hope you get you money, but don't blame the Donald for your lack of social skills.

Posted at 9:19AM on Mar 12th 2009 by former Trump employee

26. Anyone who is a witness or has information that might be helpful to the plaintiff is welcome to contact Jeffrey Cowan, her lawyer, at (310) 394-1420.

Posted at 7:03PM on Dec 5th 2008 by Jeffrey Cowan

27. I work there and yeah she's completely right. No breaks for almost everyone.

Posted at 2:03PM on Dec 9th 2008 by workin there

28. WORKIN THERE: Then y don't u say anything?

Posted at 2:45PM on Dec 9th 2008 by sexy mama

29. well like you said before nobody listens, nobody cares. HR almost seems to be against the lower class employees and sort of kicks us aside when anything comes up. We've had a worker that spoke up to the general manager about a problem he was having and I'm not sure if the GM was even listening.

Posted at 7:00PM on Dec 10th 2008 by workin there

30. As an outsider who has read the complaint posted on TMZ, comment #29 sounds a little fishy, like it was posted by management or something. How would #29 know why Lucy lost hours unless you are management? What is great is the truth will come out. I am trying to bet my friends how this will turn out but all my friend thinks Lucy is telling the truth, as do I. This lawsuit will not be settled on this website but in court.

And being a perfectionist is a good thing. If I was Trump I would want more perfectionists working for me.

Posted at 3:06AM on Dec 24th 2008 by Inside the Park

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