Atlantic City casino facing $10M suit from nightlife guru

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There’s trouble in paradise at Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort Casino, according to a nightlife guru who’s suing the property for $10 million.

Joe Morrissey — a partner in the casino club HQ2, which launched to great fanfare last spring and hosted guests from Heidi Klum to Shaquille O’Neal — claims in New York State Supreme Court documents filed Thursday that he was stiffed out of the club’s seven-figure profits and forced out.

Morrissey — who’s now working with Scores and Robert’s Steakhouse in NYC — claims he helped the resort’s owner raise $10 million in exchange for a $200,000 annual salary, 30 percent of HQ2’s profits and 49 percent of any sale of the club.

But he adds in court papers that his relationship with casino owner Bruce Deifik soured after a female employee told him “that she was uncomfortable with [Deifik] routinely asking her and her friends . . . to come see the great view from his presidential suite at the casino.” And that unnamed “female employees stressed to Mr. Morrissey that they all felt obligated to drink and socialize with [Deifik] in order to be hired.”

When he confronted Deifik, Morrissey alleges he was “bullied and humiliated” and pushed out. He claims the casino’s looking for a new buyer, and trying to keep him out of any deal. Reps did not get back to us.

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