Woman who sued Rodman dies

Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002 | 10:57 a.m.

A Henderson woman who filed a federal sexual harassment lawsuit against former NBA player Dennis Rodman and the Las Vegas Hilton has died.

Gloria Janice Chapa, 65, died Sunday in Henderson.

The 40-year resident alleged in a June 1999 lawsuit that Rodman grabbed her breasts while she was working as a cocktail waitress at the Hilton. She claimed that Rodman massaged her breasts while saying "boobs, cleavage, cleavage, cleavage."

She sued the Hilton because it reportedly fired her after determining her claims against Rodman were false. She was later reinstated after the Culinary Union, of which she was a member, fought for her job.

It is unclear at this point if Chapa's lawsuit will proceed. Rodman is scheduled to go to trial next month in Clark County District Court in another case in which he allegedly fondled Donna Ehlert, a Hilton security guard, in October 1998.

Chapa is survived by one daughter, Lisa R. Schindler of Las Vegas; one son, John Chapa of Henderson; one sister, Rhonda Thacker of Dayton, Ohio; and two grandchildren.

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