A 46-year-old East Lansing woman has filed a lawsuit against Pinball Pete's, alleging the arcade refused to hire her for a closing shift position due to her gender and petite stature. Melissa Rill claims the hiring manager told her he only hires men for evening positions and expressed concern about her safety working around intoxicated patrons.

Rill's attorney, Tad Roumayah, stated the refusal to even provide a job application constitutes a blatant violation of the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit alleges that Jeffrey Piotter, the hiring manager, explicitly told Rill he wouldn't let his daughter work the closing shift and suggested she was too small for the job.

The entertainment venue, operating under 3TM, Inc., has been a fixture in East Lansing for decades. When contacted about the allegations, a representative declined to comment, stating they had no remarks at this time. Rill initially filed a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights before pursuing legal action. The case highlights ongoing concerns about discriminatory hiring practices in retail and entertainment establishments.