Las Vegas Review-Journal

Salon a ‘cavern of toxic chemicals,’ lawsuit says

- By Richard N. Velotta Las Vegas Review-journal Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjour­nal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @Rickvelott­a on Twitter.

Fourteen former hair stylists and nail technician­s at The Cosmopolit­an of Las Vegas’ Violet Hour salon have filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court against the resort’s parent company.

The 14 plaintiffs, who stopped working at the salon between Nov. 30 and Jan. 31, are alleging Nevada Property 1 LLC, parent company to The Cosmopolit­an, failed to provide adequate ventilatio­n at the salon, exposing workers to toxic chemicals and health risks.

The complaint, filed on April 24, accuses the company of fraud, intentiona­l infliction of emotional distress and retaliator­y terminatio­n.

Representa­tives of The Cosmopolit­an did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

“Plaintiffs have worked in a noxious cavern of toxic chemicals for years while The Cosmopolit­an’s management has repeatedly turned a blind eye to numerous complaints with knowledge and with the desire that plaintiffs would suffer serious physical and-or emotional injuries by continuing to work at the Violet Hour,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit said workers

‘ Plaintiffs have worked in a noxious cavern of toxic chemicals for years. ’ Lawsuit filed by 14 former stylists and nail technician­s

have been exposed to formaldehy­de and other toxic chemicals since the salon opened in December 2010. Workers have suffered “miscarriag­es, severe damage to their reproducti­ve systems, chronic damage to their respirator­y systems,” headaches, dizziness, sore throats, anxiety, depression, insomnia, coughing, wheezing, asthma, memory loss and nausea, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit alleges that The Cosmopolit­an was designed as a luxury condominiu­m. When it opened, it was converted to a hotel-casino, the lawsuit said, and the salon was located on the 14th floor of one of the building towers in a space that was not adequately designed to accommodat­e and properly ventilate a salon.

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