• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
LeadershipRetail

Restaurant Workers’ Association Joins Lawsuit Against Donald Trump

Aric Jenkins
By
Aric Jenkins
Aric Jenkins
Down Arrow Button Icon
Aric Jenkins
By
Aric Jenkins
Aric Jenkins
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 18, 2017, 2:51 PM ET
Anti-Trump Activists Protest Outside Of Trump International Hotel Opening Ceremony
Gabriella Demczuk Getty Images

A pair of plaintiffs — a nonprofit organization that stands up for restaurant workers’ rights and a woman who books banquet halls for two Washington, D.C., hotels — joined a lawsuit alleging President Donald Trump violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause by repeatedly doing business with foreign governments at his hotels and restaurants.

Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC) and Jill Phaneuf were added to the case as of Tuesday, according to a spokesperson from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a D.C.-based watchdog group that initially filed the suit against Trump in federal court in January, the WashingtonPostreports.

The addition of ROC and Phaneuf is intended to bolster CREW’s case, who legal experts said may not have grounds to sue due to a lack of impact directly affecting the organization, according to the Post. Now, ROC and Phaneuf reportedly plan to assert that their businesses stand to lose out on foreign clients, potentially in town to gain political favor with President Trump, as direct competitors to the Trump Organization’s properties.

“It’s damage to our members, both employers’ bottom lines, and workers’ loss of income and tips,” Saru Jayaraman, ROC co-director, said.

Phaneuf said she joined the lawsuit because Trump is “taking business away from me and others with unfair business practices that violate the Constitution,” in a statement, though she declined to cite an example of when a Trump hotel had taken her business away, according to the Post.

The White House and the Trump Administration did not immediately respond to Fortune‘s request for comment.

About the Author
Aric Jenkins
By Aric Jenkins
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.