Tim Smith is named in the lawsuit as the man who dressed up as Bailey, the Kings’ mascot. Griffin, who worked as a dishwasher, also named the King’s owner, Anschutz Entertainment Group and food service companies that provide food at Kings’ games.
The alleged groping took place in an elevator of the Staples Center, where the Kings played Dec. 08, 2016. Griffin had worked for Levy Restaurants when he alleged that Smith grabbed his buttocks. An angry Griffin turned around to confront Smith when his co-worker told him, “That’s the HR lady’s husband,” the complaint alleges.
Smith is married to Melissa Smith, Levy’s director of human resources, the complaint notes. When Griffin complained to Melissa Smith the next day, she became angry and Griffin was “taken off the schedule for a time,” according to the suit.
Griffin faced embarrassing comments from his co-workers when he came back to work, such as, ‘Was his hand furry,’ the suit notes. Griffin was later fired when he met with Melissa Smith Dec. 21, 2016 and blamed his firing on the fact that he complained about her husband, the suit states.