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Lawsuit filed against TopGolf after woman claims sexual assault by supervisor

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 19:27:11 GMT

KTNV Las Vegas 10/16/20

According to the lawsuit, Hinojosa subjected Williams to virtually daily sexual harassment, including making vulgar and offensive sexual comments and advances; non-consensual touching and groping; thrusting against her hips and buttocks while laughing; touching of buttocks and breasts; and sending of offensive text messages and phone calls.

Hinojosa not only followed Williams around at work, he also reportedly showed up at her home on at least one occasion. The lawsuit describes Williams as being too terrified to answer the door.

Williams complained to Topgolf manager Chris Vaughn about Hinojosa’s conduct, which he was reportedly already aware of, and was told that sexual harassment is the norm in a restaurant environment and that she should “get used to it.” She also went to a manager named James Linares and was also dismissed by him.

In June 2017, Hinojosa followed Williams into a walk-in freezer and cornered inside saying he wanted to talk to her and he knew she wanted it. Williams says she began crying and screaming for help and he put her hand over her mouth and said “I’m going to have you one way or another.”

He then forced his hand into her pants and sexually assaulted her, according to the lawsuit.

Williams intended to quit Topgolf that day but was persuaded by another coworker to go to Human Resources. Williams gave a detailed statement about what happened in the walk-in freezer and the HR regional manager suggested she take some time off but not go to police because the incident “wasn’t serious enough to involve law enforcement.”

The HR regional manager, Joyce Boisell, also promised to handle everything, according to the lawsuit. Upon her return to work, Williams was told everything was taken care of and she was put on a night shift. However, six months later, she was told by Vaughn that Hinojosa had been named a sous chef and she might have to work with him again.

According to the lawsuit, Williams became depressed and suicidal and began missing work. Because she missed work, she was written up and Hinojosa was often involved.

Williams was finally eventually able to find other employment and handed in her resignation in April 2018. However, she was unable to perform the essential functions of her employment as a result of what happened to her at Topgolf and was forced to resign.

Three other women also filed complaints against Hinojosa in April 2018 and he was finally terminated on May 2, 2018.

On Oct. 3, 2019, Hinojosa was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a young child. He is currently in jail and waiting for trial.

On Oct. 17, Hinojosa was also charged with first-degree kidnapping and sexual assault as a result of what happened in the walk-in freezer.

The lawsuit alleges that Topgolf engaged in a tacit and sometimes overt conspiracy to harbor, protect and aid and abet Hinojosa by destroying evidence and failing to immediately report him to local law enforcement for investigation and criminal prosecution.

The lawsuit charges that if Topgolf had done so, he may not have harassed the other women or sexually assaulted a child. The plaintiff is asking for compensatory damages for mental and emotional distress in a sum in excess of $10,000; general and special damages in a sum in excess of $10,000; punitive damages in a sum in excess of $10,000; attorney’s fees; cost of the lawsuit; and any other relief the court deems proper.

13 Action News has reached out to Topgolf for a statement regarding the lawsuit. This article will be updated with their response when it is received.

Author: Joyce Lupiani

Created: 10/16/20

Category: Sexual Harrasment

Tags: Sexual Harrasment, Law Offices of James J. Lee

Hair Straightening Chemicals Associated with Higher Uterine Cancer Risk

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:55:30 GMT

NIH study finds Black women may be more affected due to higher use.

Women who used chemical hair straightening products were at higher risk for uterine cancer compared to women who did not report using these products, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health. The researchers found no associations with uterine cancer for other hair products that the women reported using, including hair dyes, bleach, highlights, or perms.

The study data includes 33,497 U.S. women ages 35-74 participating in the Sister Study , a study led by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of NIH, that seeks to identify risk factors for breast cancer and other health conditions. The women were followed for almost 11 years and during that time 378 uterine cancer cases were diagnosed.

The researchers found that women who reported frequent use of hair straightening products, defined as more than four times in the previous year, were more than twice as likely to go on to develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not use the products.

“We estimated that 1.64% of women who never used hair straighteners would go on to develop uterine cancer by the age of 70; but for frequent users, that risk goes up to 4.05%,” said Alexandra White, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Environment and Cancer Epidemiology group and lead author on the new study. “This doubling rate is concerning. However, it is important to put this information into context - uterine cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer.”

Uterine cancer accounts for about 3% of all new cancer cases but is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system, with 65,950 estimated new cases in 2022. Studies show that incidence rates of uterine cancer have been rising in the United States, particularly among Black women.

Approximately 60% of the participants who reported using straighteners in the previous year were self-identified Black women, according to the study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Although, the study did not find that the relationship between straightener use and uterine cancer incidence was different by race, the adverse health effects may be greater for Black women due to higher prevalence of use.

“Because Black women use hair straightening or relaxer products more frequently and tend to initiate use at earlier ages than other races and ethnicities, these findings may be even more relevant for them,” said Che-Jung Chang, Ph.D., an author on the new study and a research fellow in the NIEHS Epidemiology Branch.

The findings are consistent with prior studies showing straighteners can increase the risk of hormone-related cancers in women.

The researchers did not collect information on brands or ingredients in the hair products the women used. However, in the paper they note that several chemicals that have been found in straighteners (such as parabens, bisphenol A, metals, and formaldehyde) could be contributing to the increased uterine cancer risk observed. Chemical exposure from hair product use, especially straighteners, could be more concerning than other personal care products due to increased absorption through the scalp which may be exacerbated by burns and lesions caused by straighteners.

“To our knowledge this is the first epidemiologic study that examined the relationship between straightener use and uterine cancer,” said White. “More research is needed to confirm these findings in different populations, to determine if hair products contribute to health disparities in uterine cancer, and to identify the specific chemicals that may be increasing the risk of cancers in women.”

This team previously found that permanent hair dye and straighteners may increase breast and ovarian cancer risk.

Grant Numbers: Z01-ES044005, Z1AES103332-01

About the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS): NIEHS supports research to understand the effects of the environment on human health and is part of the National Institutes of Health. For more information on NIEHS or environmental health topics, visit https://www.niehs.nih.gov or subscribe to a news list.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov .

Author: National Institutes of Health

Created: 10/17/22

Updated: 10/17/22

Category: Mass Tort

Tags: Mass Tort, Cancer Risk, Hair Straightening products

Pregnancy: Does too much Acetaminophen Heighten Risk of Autism or ADHD?

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 14:53:24 GMT

Limit how often you take the pain reliever during your pregnancy.

Studies suggest that taking the drug too often during pregnancy could increase your future child’s risks for developing autism or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

We’ve long been told that acetaminophen (Tylenol®, Paracetamol®) is the best pain reliever to take during pregnancy. Ob/Gyn Salena Zanotti, MD, explains the risks and if using acetaminophen is safe.

What studies are saying

In a 2018 study , researchers did a meta-analysis of seven studies involving 132,738 pairs of mothers and children.

People were followed for periods ranging from three to 11 years, depending on the study, using questionnaires, interviews, and self-reports on medication use.The analysis revealed a 20% higher risk of autism and a 30% higher risk of ADHD for children who had prolonged exposure to acetaminophen during fetal development.

However, it noted that taking small amounts of acetaminophen during pregnancy — in one study, for fewer than eight days — didn’t increase risks.

Other studies since then have supported earlier findings that too much acetaminophen may increase one’s risk for autism and ADHD.

“Acetaminophen is still the safest known drug to take during pregnancy for problems like fever and pain,” says Dr. Zanotti. “When you’re pregnant, it’s riskier to have an untreated fever than it is to take acetaminophen.”

Why autism and ADHD are on the rise

Experts are struggling to understand why autism is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the United States, affecting 1 in every 44 8-year-old children. The incidence of ADHD is also rising, affecting 9.4% of children ages 2 to 17.

“Both diseases likely stem from many different factors, so their true cause is poorly understood,” says Dr. Zanotti.

None of the studies reviewed looked at environmental factors, maternal characteristics or genetic factors, which could heighten the risk for autism or ADHD.

“We need more research to fully understand the effects of prolonged acetaminophen exposure on the baby during pregnancy,” she notes.

Is acetaminophen safe during pregnancy?

“If you have a fever or if pain is disrupting your daily life during pregnancy, it’s OK to take acetaminophen occasionally,” says Dr. Zanotti. “We just don’t want you taking acetaminophen every day or long-term.”

Should you need pain relief while you’re pregnant, discuss your options with your physician.

Author: Cleveland Clinic

Created: 1/29/23

Updated: 1/29/23

Category: Mass Tort

Tags: Mass Tort, Health Risk, Acetaminophen