OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 1998--The Claremont Resort and Spa, Berkeley, Calif., was
accused of racial discrimination and harassment against African Americans in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Alameda
Superior Court by Gina Carter, a former manager at the Resort.

Carter, who is African American and was the manager in charge of the front desk, hired and promoted numerous African American employees, according to the lawsuit. Carter alleges that, following her hiring and promotion of African American employees, higher management of the Claremont discouraged her from hiring additional
black front desk employees and lower level managers because of their race.

The lawsuit also claims that Carter complained about the discrimination to senior management and to Harsch Investments, an Oregon company that owns the Claremont Resort and that following her complaint she was terminated from employment. According to the lawsuit, this termination was in retaliation for complaining about the discrimination.

The Claremont is currently the subject of three other lawsuits against it based on racial discrimination by African American employees, according to Carter's attorney, Alan Exelrod. All of these lawsuits are filed in Alameda County. The lawsuit filed by Carter alleges that African Americans other than her have been discriminated
against because of their race.

According to Exelrod, "The purpose of this lawsuit is to redress the civil rights violations practiced against Gina Carter and to prevent any further discrimination against African American employees and applicants by the Claremont."

The Claremont Resort and Spa is a member of the Preferred Hotels and Resorts.