In the ever-turbulent world of Austin's nightlife scene, NoCo Hospitality finds itself at the center of grave allegations, as a former employee has stepped forward with accusations of sexual misconduct and compensation disputes; the lawsuit, initiated in April and reported by MySA, includes unpaid overtime wages and claims against investor Coleman Jamison for sexual assault and emotional distress.
The plaintiff's tenure with NoCo Hospitality, as confirmed by Austin Eater, spanned from June 2022 to December 2023, throughout which she contends that she wasn't compensated for her overtime work in line with the Fair Labor Standards Act and allegedly faced Jamison's illicit conduct, for which the first report was made in February 2023, but the lawsuit alleges, "NoCo took no action to investigate the assault, report it to the police, or take any action whatsoever to ensure that Plaintiff and other employees would be safe from future assaults by Defendant Jamison," MySA reported.
Despite the alarming episodes described, the response appears lackluster, as Perry recounts that her second encounter with misconduct in October 2023, which purportedly involved Jamison pressing his erect penis against her hips and later attempting to drag her downstairs to dance, was met with a mere 60-day ban that wasn't enforced according to her legal filing; the narrative of these events casts a shadow over NoCo's management practices and pays inattention, especially given Jamison's return to the club before the ban elapsed, a detail that, as reported by the plaintiff, contributed to her decision to resign.
As this legal battle unfolds, NoCo is simultaneously grappling with the abrupt closure of Estelle's and Superstition's temporary shutter, amidst discussions of unpaid rent and economic hurdles, which "have made it extremely difficult to operate in a highly competitive nightlife space," a representative for the group explained to Austin Eater; meanwhile, the forthcoming jury selection, as per the publication, is set for July 2025.
In response to the allegations, key figures have distanced themselves from NoCo; a rep for Charles Ferraro stated he exited the scene in the summer of 2024, Smithee cut ties in December 2023, "and has not been affiliated with the company since then," she told MySA, further denting NoCo's appearance of unison and stability in confronting these serious and far-reaching accusations.
