Gaming briefs for Feb. 2, 2004

Monday, Feb. 2, 2004 | 11:04 a.m.

Troupe offers to reinstate HIV-positive gymnast

SAN FRANCISCO -- Cirque du Soleil offered Friday to reinstate an HIV-positive gymnast after federal labor investigators found "reasonable cause" to believe the Montreal-based circus engaged in job discrimination when it fired the performer because of his condition.

The offer came hours after the Los Angeles office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission upheld the merits of a complaint brought by the fired gymnast, Matthew Cusick. A Cirque du Soleil spokeswoman said the circus was placing "no restrictions" on the kind of acts in which Cusick could appear.

"We are ready to welcome him back," Cirque du Soleil spokeswoman Renee-Claude Menard said. "Our job now is to make sure it's done quickly and efficiently."

Cirque du Soleil, which is known for its daring aerial acts, never denied that Cusick was fired as a "catcher" in the Russian High Bar act and as an acrobat in the Chinese tall pole act days before he was to join the "Mystere" show in Las Vegas because of his HIV status.

Cusick, 32, voluntarily disclosed his health condition and had spent four months training with the group when he was informed his contact had been terminated because he posed a health risk to fellow performers. He filed his complaint under the Americans With Disabilities Act, which includes protections for people with HIV.

Menard downplayed the role the EEOC determination had in persuading Cirque du Soleil to change its position. Rather, she insisted the circus was convinced after consulting medical experts who said "the risks are minimal" that an acrobat infected with HIV would pass the virus on to another performer.

Casino laying off 240 employees

TULALIP, Wash. -- Seven months after the $78 million Tulalip Casino opened, 240 of its 1,600 employees have been laid off.

The layoffs Friday mostly hit those in food and beverage services and front-line servers such as hosts and card dealers, said Marci Fryberg, the casino's acting general manager.

"While decisions like this are extremely difficult, we need to increase the efficiency of our business," she said. "Any time a new business the size of this one opens, there's always a period of adjustment and defining your customer base."

The Seattle-area casino hired about 1,400 people for its opening and added workers as it brought its four restaurants into service to accommodate the crowds.

No further layoffs are expected for the 227,000-square-foot casino.

None of about 300 tribal members who work at the casino was laid off because they are part owners of the casino and receive employment priority.

Official takes early retirement amid questions

DENVER -- George Turner, head of enforcement over state gaming and lottery operations, has retired less than a month after being put on administrative leave amid questions about his conduct.

Diane Reimer, spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue, said Turner retired effective Friday.

A week ago he met with Department of Revenue Director Michael Cooke to discuss questions she had about his conduct.

One issue concerned his handling of the case of Steve Barber, a gaming investigator who resigned last year while he was being investigated for selling souvenir gaming chips over the Internet, Reimer said. Barber now faces criminal charges over the incident. Any other questions Cooke had involved personnel matters that are now moot, Reimer said.

Turner's salary was $116,760. He had been with the department for about 30 years. Turner was unavailable for comment.

He is the second top official in the Department of Revenue to retire abruptly. Late last year, Mark Zamarippa, then director of the Colorado Lottery, retired at a time he faced questions about travel costs.