Casino.org spoke to a law professor about the prospective future of the ongoing lawsuit against Harrah’s New Orleans. The plaintiff, Deja Harrison, was prevented from entering the casino’s gaming floor earlier this year after her IDs were challenged by casino staff in October.
Harrah’s may opt to settle a recent lawsuit filed by a Black US Army officer before it goes to a jury, Robert Jarvis, a law professor at Florida’s Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard College of Law, told Casino.org.
Unless Harrah’s is absolutely convinced that it did everything right, it would be wise to settle this case,” Jarvis told Casino.org.
Harrison is suing in a state court under Louisiana law. Her attorney filed the lawsuit earlier this month in Louisiana’s Orleans Parish district court.
Harrison was denied entry into Harrah’s after a casino employee questioned the validity of her ID. Harrison showed two forms of ID, including her military ID, however, according to the casino, the information did not match. The interaction was filmed and published on social media shortly after the incident.
Discrimination Under the Law
Under Louisiana law, businesses cannot deny services or access to facilities based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, or age, Jarvis explained. Of course, in this case, Harrah’s has the right to ban Harrison’s entry into the casino if they believed she was underage.
However, the attorney representing Harrison says the incident was a clear example of racial bias.
The casino worker “just jumped to his own stereotypes that a Black woman like Deja couldn’t rise to her rank that quickly,” James DeSimone, an attorney for Harrison, 23, recently told Business Insider.
On the video recording of the interaction, the casino employee is heard saying “I’m not saying that the ID is fake. I’m saying that I don’t think that it’s you.”
To prove their case, the plaintiff does not have to prove motive. Instead, they must prove actions, using statements and evidence.
Harrah’s Policy
However, according to a statement issued by Harrah’s New Orleans, the issue revolves around age verification.
Under Harrah’s New Orleans policy, staff must check IDs for anyone who appears under 30. The casino uses an electronic reader and staff is trained to evaluate information, according to the company.
In this case, Ms. Harrison, who appeared to be under 30, presented a Louisiana driver’s license that did not clear our electronic verification system,” the statement read.
“When asked for an alternative form of identification, she presented a military ID card, but the information on the military ID card did not match the information she had verbally communicated to our security officers. As a result, in compliance with applicable gaming regulations, our security officers did not permit Ms. Harrison to enter the casino,” the statement continued. “As a result, in compliance with applicable gaming regulations, our security officers did not permit Ms. Harrison to enter the casino,” the statement read.
This statement may be Harrah’s best legal defense, Jarvis said.
Harrah’s best option is to state they were “concerned that Harrison might be underage and it could not take the chance that she was telling the truth, because it would be putting its license in jeopardy if Harrison turned out to be underage,” Jarvis said.
Bad Publicity
As the case gathers more media attention, it continues a “drumbeat of bad publicity,” according to Jarvis.
The publicity generated by Harrison’s claims can only hurt Harrah’s, he continued. According to Jarvis, Harrison’s primary motivation is to get Harrah’s to apologize and change its screening procedures, with money being a secondary objective.
The request for an apology and procedural change is not outrageous, Jarvis said.
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