Dishwasher suing LA Kings mascot Bailey the Lion

The man who appears as the mascot for the Los Angeles Kings has been sued by a dishwasher for allegedly groping his buttocks in a Staples Center elevator in 2016.

Maso Griffin claims the actor inside ‘Bailey the Lion’ who gees up LA Kings fans during NHL games squeezed his bottom.

Griffin is suing defendant Tim Smith as well as his employer, Kings’ owner Anschutz Entertainment Group Inc., as well as Levy Restaurants Inc. and Compass Group USA, which both provide food services to Staples Center.

The suit states that Griffin was employed by Levy Restaurants and that Smith – who is married to Melissa Smith, Levy’s director of human resources – put one hand on one of Griffin’s shoulders and used his other hand to squeeze the plaintiff’s buttocks.

Despite wanting to complain about the alleged assault, Griffin says he was told ‘that’s the HR lady’s husband,’ deterring him from escalating the incident, according to the complain.

However, alleged victim did complain the next day, angering Mrs Smith, resulting in the plaintiff being ‘taken off the schedule for a time,’ the suit states.

Griffin is suing defendant Tim Smith as well as his employer, Kings’ owner Anschutz Entertainment Group Inc., as well as Levy Restaurants Inc. and Compass Group USA, which both provide food services to Staples Center

Following the alleged assault, Griffin was the victim of embarrasing and derogatory remarks by co-workers, including ‘was his hands furry?’ the suit says. 

It adds that Griffin had his employment terminated during a meeting with Mrs Smith on December 21 and he believes he lost his job because he complained about her husband’s alleged conduct.