Leona loses - Bias - Leona Helmsley loses in employment discrimination case brought by manager of her Park Lane Hotel, Manhattan, New York - Brief Article

The former manager of Leona Helmsley's Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan emerged victorious February 4, when a jury handed Charles Bell $11.2 million in punitive and compensatory damages in Bell's employment discrimination suit against Helmsley.

The 48-year-old sued Helmsley, dubbed the "Queen of Mean," for wrongful and discriminatory termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Bell said Helmsley subjected him to all manner of verbal abuse after she learned he is gay. He was fired in March 2001 after less than five months on the job.

"It was complete vindication that the jury heard our story and they saw the entire truth," he said.

Now a restaurant manager in Manhattan, Bell said he hopes to use the money to help other gay people facing workplace discrimination: "I would like to set up a foundation so that money can be used to help other communities, so they don't have to go through this."

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