Executive Summary
- Attorney Christine DeMaria has sued Gossip Gentlemen’s Club, alleging trafficking and forced prostitution.
- The lawsuit claims dancers were coerced into sex acts in locked VIP rooms under threat of termination.
- Defendants include owner Brian Rosenberg and manager Spiro Anastasiadis, who are accused of facilitating the abuse.
- DeMaria alleges she was fired and blacklisted after reporting sexual assaults and unsafe conditions.
A former exotic dancer turned attorney has filed a civil lawsuit against the ownership and management of a Melville strip club, alleging that the establishment facilitated sex trafficking and coerced women into performing sex acts under the threat of termination. The complaint, filed Thursday in New York Supreme Court by Christine DeMaria, accuses Gossip Gentlemen’s Club and Lounge of fostering an environment where high-paying customers were permitted to sexually assault dancers in private areas.
The lawsuit names Gossip owner Brian Rosenberg, senior manager Spiro Anastasiadis, and several other staff members as defendants. According to the court filing, DeMaria alleges that she and other dancers were subjected to “house fees” ranging from $40 to $100 per shift and were pressured to consume alcohol to lower their inhibitions with inebriated patrons. The suit contends that despite public rules prohibiting physical contact, management explicitly encouraged prostitution in soundproofed VIP rooms that could be locked from the outside by bouncers.
DeMaria, who worked at the club starting in 2016, claims in the legal filing that refusing to engage in sex acts resulted in penalties or replacement, while complying meant risking physical safety. The lawsuit describes incidents where DeMaria was allegedly sexually assaulted by a client in a VIP room and witnessed a co-worker being coerced into sexual acts. The plaintiff asserts that when she reported these unsafe conditions to management, her complaints were ignored, and she was eventually fired and blacklisted from the industry as retaliation.
The complaint details multiple causes of action, including sexual harassment, human trafficking, gender discrimination, hostile work environment, and violations of New York State’s Human Rights Law. The suit also alleges that owner Brian Rosenberg facilitated credit card transactions for sex acts near the VIP rooms. Rosenberg did not respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations, and Anastasiadis declined to comment when reached by phone.
Since leaving the adult entertainment industry, DeMaria has graduated from New York Law School and founded the nonprofit Sex Workers in Transition Compassion Home (SWITCH), which assists trafficking victims. Her attorney, Megan Goddard, stated that the lawsuit aims to establish that sexual assault and coerced prostitution cannot be considered a condition of employment.
Judicial and Regulatory Implications
This lawsuit highlights the evolving legal scrutiny regarding labor practices and safety standards within the adult entertainment industry. By alleging violations of state Human Rights Law and human trafficking statutes, the plaintiff is seeking to hold management liable for the criminal acts of patrons and the alleged coercive environment fostered by the club’s leadership. The outcome of this case could establish significant precedents regarding the liability of venue owners for the safety and agency of independent contractors and employees in similar establishments. It is important to note that the claims contained in the lawsuit are allegations, and all individuals named are presumed innocent of any criminal conduct until proven guilty in a court of law.
