Soho House in Los Angeles is facing a civil lawsuit after a former bartender says a supervisor drugged and raped her following a work-related night out at the private club’s Soho Warehouse. The suit, filed this week under the name Jane Doe in a downtown Los Angeles courthouse, alleges she became disoriented after drinking with colleagues, blacked out, and later woke up naked in the supervisor’s apartment. She says she reported the incident internally, was told her account could not be corroborated, and resigned earlier this month.
Allegations in the court filing
According to ABC7, the complaint states that the bartender joined co-workers and supervisors for drinks in September, then lost consciousness and woke up naked in her supervisor’s apartment. The filing says she “felt disoriented,” describes her as “paralyzed and speechless,” and alleges the supervisor “repeatedly raped her inanimate body,” language taken directly from the court papers.
The suit asserts that when she reported what happened to management and human resources, the company told her the complaint was uncorroborated. The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed it is conducting a criminal investigation. In the civil case, the plaintiff is asking for a jury trial.
Attorney and company responses
The woman is represented by attorney Neama Rahmani, whose profile is listed at West Coast Trial Lawyers. According to the complaint and subsequent reporting, the plaintiff says she notified managers and human resources and later filed a police report. Her attorney contends the company did not discipline the supervisor she accused.
In a statement reported to ABC7, a Soho House spokesperson said the company takes such allegations seriously, opened an internal investigation, and that “decisive and appropriate actions were taken.” The spokesperson did not elaborate on what those actions were.
What employers are required to do
Guidance from California’s Civil Rights Department says employers must take reasonable steps to prevent and correct harassment, promptly investigate complaints, and provide required sexual harassment prevention training to employees. The state agency also outlines options and resources for both workers and employers around reporting, investigations, and potential remedies, including how to file an external complaint when in-house procedures do not resolve an issue. The materials note that employers can be held civilly liable if they fail to investigate or stop harassment.
What happens next
The civil lawsuit will move forward in Los Angeles Superior Court, where the plaintiff is seeking a jury trial. At the same time, the LAPD’s criminal inquiry may continue on a separate track. For now, the assertions remain allegations in a complaint and will be tested through the court process and any criminal proceedings that might follow.
