A long-running discrimination case involving MGM’s National Harbor property has reached its end after the US Supreme Court declined to reexamine it. This decision means that a jury verdict that favored the casino operator will remain in place. The case involved a former retail manager who claimed she was pushed out of her role because of her lighter skin tone.
Workplace Tensions Escalated
The dispute dates back to 2017, when the plaintiff was hired into a management position at a boutique inside the Maryland resort. She argued she was a good fit for the position, and at first, she was successful in stabilizing store operations and increasing sales. That trajectory, she said, changed when a senior executive, a darker-skinned Black woman, returned from leave.
That was the beginning of an abrupt change in the workplace. The plaintiff described being pushed aside and second-guessed as her higher-ups favored darker-skinned employees. There was a turning point in the high-profile store event when she said her work was undone in front of staff and guests. Security escorted her off the premises after the situation escalated, and a separation notice followed the next day.
MGM denied the plaintiff’s allegations, insisting that there was no discriminatory motive behind the dismissal. The company also denied claims that workers were treated differently according to the color of their skin. These contrasting narratives led to a legal battle that lasted several years, culminating in the Supreme Court’s recent decision.
The Courts Ultimately Sided with MGM
While a federal judge initially dismissed the discrimination claims, an appeals court revived the color-based allegation, allowing it to proceed to trial. At that stage, the scope had been greatly narrowed to whether or not skin tone was part of the decision to terminate. In the end, a jury backed MGM, ruling there was not enough evidence to establish whether color bias played a role in the outcome. That finding was later affirmed on appeal.
The plaintiff’s final push to revive the case shifted its focus. In her Supreme Court petition, she said procedural errors and her difficulties in representing herself had impeded her ability to make the case in full. However, the justices denied the appeal without comment, meaning that the ruling supporting MGM remains in force.
This is not the only discrimination lawsuit MGM faces. Another legal challenge targeting MGM Grand Detroit involves allegations of disability discrimination. A former employee claims he faced repeated mockery and humiliation tied to his medical conditions and was dismissed after reporting the behavior. That case is still ongoing and threatens to evolve into another multi-year legal battle.