LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A guard for a security protection firm has filed suit, alleging that she was forced out for complaining about rampant drug use by celebrities and their guests where she was assigned to work.
The 41-year-old woman filed the case Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court under the name Jane Doe.
She lists as defendants her former workplace, Santa Ana-based Universal Protection Services; Universal Music Publishing Co., which maintained an office in Santa Monica until January 2012; Kilroy Realty
Corp., which leased part of a building to UMPG; and DeShonn Walker, her former supervisor.
“The various guests of UMPG that plaintiff witnessed engage in illegal drug use … included … singer Macy Gray, guests of Jamie Foxx, rapper MC Ren and guests, rapper T.I. and his wife Tiny’s entourage and rapper Future, among other artists,” the suit states.
Some artists offered the plaintiff drugs, but she declined, according to the suit.
The plaintiff’s allegations include wrongful termination, hostile work environment, both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligent hiring and supervision. She is asking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. A representative for Universal Protection Services did not immediately return a call for comment.
According to the lawsuit, the woman began working for the security firm in May 2010 and was assigned to the UMPG offices.
“On various occasions, plaintiff witnessed and complained about illegal activity including drug use, possession, distribution and participation by UMPG, its clients and visitors,” the suit states. “Many of the visitors of UMPG were various celebrities whom plaintiff witnessed use drugs.”
The woman complained to her company and was told that Kilroy officials were aware of what was going on, the suit states.
When the woman told Walker about what she was seeing, he “laughed it off,” the suit states.
On one occasion Adam Levine, lead singer of Maroon 5, was in the studio with his guests and the plaintiff complained about the smell of marijuana, the suit states. When she complained to the UMPG manager, he replied, “It’s Adam Levine You know from Maroon 5. He can do whatever he wants. If he wants to come to the lobby and do a line of cocaine on the floor it’s okay,” the suit states.
UMPG officials told the woman they used candles and incense to try and drown out the marijuana smell, according to the suit.
In addition to the drug use, the plaintiff witnessed a “sexually charged work environment” in which bras were hung in the UMPG studio and condoms were turning up in the men’s restroom while she was on patrol, the suit states. She also worried that artists might bring guns onto the premises, according to the suit.
In January, the plaintiff was called to meet with her company’s operations manager, who told her that he was aware of her complaints; and he handed her a disciplinary action form informing her that she was suspended until January 11, according to the suit.
The woman was not allowed to to her job after her suspension and remains unemployed, the suit states.
