JUDGE allows lawsuit against Rodman to move forward

Tuesday, July 10th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ A Las Vegas Hilton cocktail waitress has won the right to a trial in her lawsuit alleging she was fondled by former basketball star Dennis Rodman and was fired for reporting the incident.

Gloria Chapa sued Hilton and Rodman in June 1999, about a year after she was allegedly fired for complaining Rodman grabbed her breasts when she served him a drink. Rodman attended college at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla.

Chapa said she was fired after Hilton decided the complaint was false.

She was reinstated April 17, 1999, as Hilton faced a binding arbitration hearing with the Culinary Union, her lawsuit said.

U.S. District Judge Philip Pro in Las Vegas ruled Friday that Hilton's termination of Chapa was ``undoubtedly an adverse employment action.''

The judge said Chapa's sexual harassment claim should be heard by a jury because Chapa produced the names of two other women who allegedly were groped by Rodman at the Hilton and the hotel-casino was aware of one of the incidents.

A Hilton attorney declined comment.

Pro dismissed other Chapa claims against Rodman of assault and violations of the Violence Against Women Act, and her claims against both him and the Hilton of intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy and civil aiding and abetting.

Defamation and false imprisonment charges against the Hilton also were dismissed.