Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel filed a discrimination lawsuit against the health club chain Lucille Roberts in Manhattan federal court. Lucille Roberts employees targeted, harassed, screamed at, and banned school teacher Yosefa Jalal, all because she wore a modest, fitted, knee-length skirt. Lucille Roberts even threatened to call the police if she did not leave the premises.

Ms. Jalal is an elementary school teacher, a Master’s student in childhood education, and an observant Jewish woman who follows the Jewish laws of modesty. She repeatedly told Lucille Roberts she needed to wear the skirt for religious reasons.

“All I want is to work out and take classes like everyone else,” said Ms. Jalal. “It isn’t fair for Lucille Roberts to target me because I’m Jewish.”

“A half-century after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we still have a company discriminating on the basis of religion,” said Ilann M. Maazel, a lawyer at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel, and counsel for Ms. Jalal. “The repeated harassment by Lucille Roberts is inexplicable and indefensible.”

Lucille Roberts has also targeted other observant Jewish women who wear fitted, knee-length skirts.

Read the Complaint
Lucille Roberts’ Dress Code
Photograph of the skirt