A former live casino dealer is suing Evolution Gaming for unlawful termination and discrimination based on a disability. The plaintiff, Tanaisha S. London, worked as a game presenter in New Jersey between March 7, 2022, and Sept. 15, 2023. During her employment, she suffered severe injuries in a car accident. Due to her injuries, London says she requested reasonable accommodations, which Evolution did not honor.
According to court documents, Evolution terminated London after a series of events, including moves to other games. She claims her injuries qualified her as disabled under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD).
As she claims the defendant didn’t accommodate her based on her disability, the plaintiff demands judgment against Evolution on four counts:
- Disability discrimination under the LAD
- Perception of disability discrimination under the LAD
- Retaliation under the LAD
- Request for equitable relief
London seeks compensatory damages for economic and emotional harm, punitive damages due to the company’s actions, and other relief such as reinstatement, back pay, and front pay.
Evolution did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
What Does London Claim Evolution Did?
According to the complaint, London she was involved in a car accident in April 2022. She suffered severe injuries, including three herniated discs and a pinched nerve in her arm. The injuries caused her to experience chronic pain and limited mobility, qualifying her as disabled under LAD.
Between July and October 2022, London experienced back pain when working live dealer table games that required prolonged standing. She informed her manager and requested reasonable accommodations, supported by a doctor’s note. According to the lawsuit, only three games presented by Evolution require prolonged standing, while 10 others don’t.
When London started working roulette tables in July 2023, she began experiencing tremors, numbness, and pain due to the pinched nerve in her hand. After speaking to her direct manager and higher management, the company asked her to provide another doctor’s note.
After receiving the new note, Evolution assigned London to roulette tables again. Her superiors told her that only her standing accommodation was approved. She spoke to Human Resources, which did not elaborate on the decision beyond that it was made due to policy.
In September 2023, Evolution suspended London for failing to work on the roulette tables. On Sept. 8, via email, the company told her to provide another accommodation letter to return to work. On Sept. 9, the defendant assigned London to a standing game. On Sept. 11, it assigned her to roulette tables.
Human Resources informed London that they could not contact her doctor and wouldn’t accept another doctor’s note. On Sept. 15, Evolution asked for another doctor’s note from London’s chiropractor but terminated her before she could provide one.
Evolution Is Also Facing a US Class-Action Lawsuit
London’s lawsuit is not the only one Evolution faces in the US. A class-action lawsuit from US shareholders accuses the company of misleading investors who purchased American depository shares between Feb. 14, 2019, and Oct. 25, 2023.
The plaintiffs accuse Evolution of lying about its relationship with unlicensed and illegal operators in black and gray markets. The complaint says Evolution’s share price drops followed regulatory crackdowns in several countries. It also says that these crackdowns could have contributed to below-expectation Q2 and Q3 2023 results, which affected the stock price.
However, a recent development could help Evolution. Last month, the company received a favorable ruling that could strengthen its position in the class-action lawsuit. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) cleared Evolution of wrongdoing in an investigation of possible regulatory misconduct.
DGE deemed that no further action was required and closed the investigation. The regulator found no evidence that Evolution materially benefited from its content being offered in illegal markets.
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