Intown Suites chief financial officer Bill Brewer tells GlobeSt.com, "The suit lacks merit and is filled with unfounded accusations in an effort to besmirch Intown's reputation." He adds, "InTown does not and has not discriminated against any of these individuals."

Most of the plaintiffs worked as property managers at Intown hotels in the metro area between May 2002 and March 2003, according to the suit. Some of the managers had worked for locally based Suburban Lodges of America Inc. before that company merged with Intown in May 2002. They each seek undetermined back pay, benefits and overtime compensation, according to the suit.

Intown Suites operates 120 extended-stay hotels in 20 states. Considered by industry sources as one of the largest economy-segment, extended-stay brands in the US, the company has a portfolio of about 16,000 rooms.

The 15-year-old firm invested over $20 million in upgrading former Suburban Lodges properties to the Intown brand, according to Intown CEO David Vickers in a previously reported GlobeSt.com article. A typical Intown Suites property has 121 studio suites located in major urban and suburban areas on main thoroughfares with high visibility, usually near concentrations of retail facilities, according to the company.