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MSG's Reputation Takes Another Big Hit

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Oct 8, 2007 7:10 pm US/Eastern

MSG's Reputation Takes Another Big Hit

Former Security Employee Calls Garden Brass 'Boys Club'

Reporting
Deborah Garcia
NEW YORK (CBS) ― There are more allegations of racial discrimination and retaliation at Madison Square Garden. A former security guard claims MSG executives created a "boys club" and then forced her out for complaining.

Constant harassment and racial discrimination are how Diane Henson described her last two years working at the Garden. And now she and another female employee are suing one of the most famous sports venues in America.

"I was harassed, discriminated and really put through the mill. I mean really bad," Henson said.

Henson used to be a security supervisor at the Garden until she said she was forced to resign in July. According to her managers had black employees work more difficult and unappealing positions while young white interns, who allegedly slept with their bosses, were promoted.

"There is a big disparity between black and white, male and females," Henson said. "It's just horrible there. It's a boys club, old boys club.

"Sleeping for promotions is very wide-spread, very wide spread," she added.

And like Anucha Browne Sanders, who sued MSG and won $11.6 million, Henson said her complaints of discrimination and harassment went unanswered.

"I kept going to employee relations to human resources and pretty much got a pat on the head telling me it would be all right, we'll talk to them," Henson said. "And every time I did it got worse."

While this lawsuit comes just days after Sanders won big, Henson insists her suit is not in response to that one.

"We contacted them well before the case even went to trial," said William Sipser, Henson's attorney. "This preceded that. This isn't something that is being brought forward right now because of what happened in the trial."

When asked, MSG declined to comment on this lawsuit which will be filed in New York State Supreme Court next week.

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