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Women Sue Over Gorilla's Breast 'Fetish' (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050219/ap_on_re_us/gorilla_lawsuit&e=1)

Sat Feb 19, 8:31 AM ET

By MAY WONG, Associated Press writer

WOODSIDE, Calif. - Two fired caretakers for Koko, the world-famous sign-language-speaking gorilla, have sued their former bosses, claiming they were pressured to expose their breasts as a way of bonding with the 300-pound simian.

Nancy Alperin and Kendra Keller, both of San Francisco, claim they were subjected to sexual discrimination and then wrongfully terminated after reporting health and safety violations at Koko's home in Woodside, an upscale town in the south San Francisco Bay area.

The lawsuit against the Gorilla Foundation and its president, Francine "Penny" Patterson, the longtime trainer of the well-known gorilla, was filed this week in San Mateo County Superior Court. It seeks damages totaling more than $1 million.

Foundation attorney Todd Roberts said the case mischaracterizes the foundation and turns a "purported employment issue" into publicity "hurtful" for a reputable organization.

"We unequivocally deny these allegations and are confident that this case lacks merit," Roberts said.

Alperin and Keller were hired last year and were among 16 employees of the foundation, which was founded in 1976 to promote the preservation and study of gorillas. It is best known for Koko, who has mastered a vocabulary of more than 1,000 signs; the foundation says she has advanced further in language than any other non-human.

The suit claims Patterson pressured the two women on several occasions to expose their breasts to Koko, a 33-year-old female — sometimes in situations where other employees could potentially view their bodies. The women never undressed, said their attorney, Stephen Sommers of San Francisco.

They were threatened that if they "did not indulge Koko's nipple fetish, their employment with the Gorilla Foundation would suffer," the lawsuit alleged.

The lawsuit claims that on one occasion Patterson said, "'Koko, you see my nipples all the time. You are probably bored with my nipples. You need to see new nipples.'"

In addition to the alleged harassment, the two former workers claimed the Woodside facility had unsanitary and unsafe conditions, including rodents in the food preparation area and gorilla urine stored in the refrigerator where workers kept their lunches.

They complained to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health and were fired on Aug. 6, the day after inspectors visited the site and found code violations, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also claims the nonprofit failed to pay for overtime and provide rest breaks.

I would like to know the ASL sign for "nipple". Can anyone help me out?

http://www.angelfire.com/pa3/ecarpenter/anatomyIII.htm

Other signers use the "F" handshape, palm out, and move the circle formed by the thumb and forefinger from one breast to the other. (Be careful -- an alternate of this sign, with the hands beginning in fists and the index fingers flicking out can mean "nipple erection."

Ex-worker is third to sue over gorilla (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/02/26/BAGIUBH8CM38.DTL)
Woman says she had to show her breasts to Koko

Patricia Yollin, Chronicle Staff Writer

Saturday, February 26, 2005
 
Another former employee of the Gorilla Foundation has filed a lawsuit saying that she was repeatedly forced to partially disrobe in front of Koko the "talking" ape.

Redwood City resident Iris Rivera, 39, revealed her breasts to Koko seven or eight times in a two-month period last summer, according to a suit filed in San Mateo County Superior Court this week -- seven days after a similar legal claim from two San Francisco women who also had worked for the internationally known Woodside nonprofit.

Unlike Nancy Alperin and Kendra Keller, who ignored foundation President Francine Patterson's pressure to expose themselves, Rivera acquiesced.

"She took it as a disagreeable duty of her employment," said Rivera's lawyer, Michael Adams, in a phone interview.

Redwood City attorney Todd Roberts, representing the Gorilla Foundation, said, "We're confident there's no merit to either of these lawsuits. We are not going to dignify the allegations with a response."

He said the foundation's position was exactly the same as the statement posted on its Web site in regard to last week's lawsuit.

"We unequivocally deny the hurtful allegations of the lawsuit and intend to vigorously defend the case through trial, if necessary," the statement said in part.

Rivera was hired as an administrative assistant in February 2004 but wasn't introduced to Koko until June.

"To Rivera's shock and surprise, Patterson informed Rivera that Koko was communicating by sign language that 'she wants to see your nipples,' " the suit alleged. "When Rivera expressed her incredulity at the apparent request, Patterson pressured Rivera to comply, telling her, 'Everyone does it for her around here' and telling Koko to 'calm down' and 'just give her time.'

"Rivera then reluctantly raised her T-shirt briefly to reveal her bra, but Rivera admonished her that Koko 'wants to see the nipples (italicized in the suit).' Rivera grudgingly complied. Patterson then exclaimed, 'Oh look, Koko, she has big nipples.' "

The sessions ended in August, Adams said, after what he described as a particularly unsettling encounter.

One of Koko's handlers told Rivera that the loquacious primate -- best- known for her purported 1,000-word American Sign Language vocabulary -- indicated that she wanted to be alone with Rivera.

"My client was getting some rudimentary signing from Koko," he said by phone from his Redwood City office. " 'Let down your hair. Lie down on the floor. Show your breasts again. Close your eyes.' My client peeped out and saw Koko slowly kneel down and start squatting and breathing heavily. My client got spooked and ran out of the trailer."

Although Koko was confined to a wire cage, her behavior was suggestive to the point that Rivera didn't want to wait around and find out what might come next, Adams said.

And she refused to go near the 33-year-old lowland gorilla again, Adams added.

On previous occasions, Adams said, Patterson would watch Rivera expose herself to Koko. And the gorilla would take it all in, the lawyer said, "with wide-open, staring eyes."

Rivera quit on Jan. 13 and has found office work elsewhere, Adams said.

The suit alleges sexual and disability discrimination, invasion of privacy and Labor Code violations. It asks for unspecified general, special and punitive damages, and also names Patterson and Gary Stanley, director of educational technology at the foundation. Stanley, reached by phone, referred all questions to lawyer Roberts.

The suit says Rivera was treated for an ectopic pregnancy last fall, missed several weeks of work and returned in November under "medical limitations" that Stanley ignored.

Rivera developed panic attacks and an anxiety disorder, prompting Stanley to harass and ridicule her, the suit also claims.

In addition, it alleges unpaid overtime and refusal to allow meal and rest breaks.

the evil liberal professors are out to paint all conservatives as stupid!@!!one!!

hey, fuck you guys. He's a Zelda fanboi so he's awright in my book.  :-P