'Barista Exposure Ban' US Lawsuit... 'Freedom of Business' Prevails

The city authorities in Everett, Washington, USA, who had cracked down on a coffee shop where employees wore revealing outfits, have paid a settlement of $500,000 (660 million KRW) to end years of litigation.

According to reports from Fox Business and Fortune on the 8th (local time), the Everett City Council, located in the northern suburbs of Seattle, agreed to pay $500,000 in settlement to Giovanna Edge, the owner of the coffee stand 'Hillbilly Hotties,' and her employees, thereby ending the prolonged legal battle.

The city authorities in Everett, Washington, USA, who cracked down on a coffee shop where employees wore revealing outfits, have paid a settlement of $500,000 (660 million KRW) to end years of litigation.
[Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

The conflict between Hillbilly Hotties and the city dates back to 2009. Complaints were raised about the inappropriate nature of Hillbilly Hotties' business practice of serving coffee while wearing highly revealing, provocative clothing, along with concerns about prostitution. In response, city authorities launched crackdowns.

The city arrested related individuals on charges including minor prostitution and exploitation, but this business practice did not cease. Consequently, the city introduced an ordinance in 2017 mandating the wearing of tank tops and shorts for these employees.

However, Hillbilly Hotties argued that the ordinance violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, and a lawsuit ensued. The First Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech."

In October last year, the district court ruled, "The city's dress code requiring street vendors to wear shorts and shirts covering the diaphragm violates both the U.S. Constitution and Washington State's Equal Protection Clause," citing evidence that the barista occupation targeted by the ordinance is almost exclusively female.

The court added, "At some point, the city will have to determine how to measure skin exposure, which encourages censorship of women and deprives them of rights and freedoms."

Initially, the plaintiffs sought $3 million and attorney fees from the city. Although the city could have appealed, it agreed to this settlement to avoid potentially larger damages if it lost in a higher court. As a result of this settlement, employees are no longer required to comply with the city's dress code.

A city official stated after the loss, "Many young women who reported being forced into sexual acts to keep their jobs at a particular coffee stand participated in this lawsuit," and added, "We are disappointed by the court's decision and hope that young women will be protected and respected."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.