Employee at Lloyd District Senior Home Sues for Racial Discrimination After Two Alleged Nooses Are Found Hanging in Break Room

The former employee of Pacifica Senior Living Calaroga Terrace says her boss dismissed the nooses as "just ropes."

A former employee of Pacifica Senior Living Calaroga Terrace has filed a racial-discrimination lawsuit against the operators of the Lloyd District senior living center.

Ebony Hankins sued Encore Senior Living and other operators of Calaroga Terrace in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Dec. 31, alleging that her dining staff found two nooses hanging from the employee break-room rafters in September 2014.

Hankins, who is black, says Calaroga Terrace's white director laughed about the nooses and said they were "just ropes" used to move furniture.

The lawsuit says Encore Senior Living held a town hall-style meeting about the nooses, but Hankins' contract wasn't renewed after she complained.

Calaroga Terrace managers did not return calls seeking comment.

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