Americans in need of short pink khakis, lime green fleeces, and koozies of various hues, often turn to Vineyard Vines, a store that’s outfitted the young Tates and Sloanes of this country since 1998. Now, a lawsuit alleges one store covered up an ugly trail of sexual assault.

The case, filed this week by Ciara Robinson of Central Valley, NY, says her whale-logo’d manager Daniel Pezzola repeatedly hit on, groped, slapped, hit, insulted, threatened, and eventually raped her—all inside a Vineyard Vines retail store. Even worse, Robinson alleges, the abuse often happened around other employees, none of whom intervened or reported the behavior.

Robinson’s list of Pezzola’s alleged misdeeds is long and awful:


Finally, the complaint continues, Pezzola raped Robinson in a back room of the Vineyard Vines store (corporate motto: “The Good Life”):


Robinson says that when she reported the rape to another supervisor, Nicole Corcoran, she was “laughed at,” and Corcoran replied “Ew! In my chair.” Messages sent to Corcoran’s superior about the rape (Vineyard Vines district manager Lou Artese) were ignored entirely—though sordid details were leaked to other VV employees, increasing Robinson’s humiliation. Robinson says that even after Pezzola admitted to some of his behavior, he was never disciplined—and Robinson herself was ultimately fired for an alleged history of disciplinary infractions.

Robinson is suing for punitive damages, compensation for suffering, and her old job back.

You can read the full legal complaint here, and view exhibits (including sections of the Vineyard Vines employee manual) here.

Contact the author at biddle@gawker.com.
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