The City of Burbank is off the hook, at least for now, in a sexual harassment lawsuit tied to DeBell Municipal Golf Course. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has dropped the city as a defendant, leaving course operator Touchstone Golf LLC to defend the case on its own as the matter grinds toward trial.
Judge Cuts City Out Of The Case
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel S. Murphy ruled on Wednesday that there was not enough evidence to show Burbank controlled the day-to-day working conditions at DeBell. In the same ruling, he refused Touchstone Golf LLC's attempt to get rid of the claim for punitive damages and wrote that "The evidence suggests that Touchstone’s inaction placed Burrows at serious, tangible risk," according to MyNewsLA.
What The Servers Say Happened
The lawsuit was filed on April 28, 2023, by former servers Lexi Burrows and Brooklynn Lundberg. Their complaint alleges harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and wage violations, as outlined by Rulings.law. The women say they worked in DeBell’s restaurant and banquet operations and quit in February 2023 because working conditions had become intolerable. Court records show the case has already sparked multiple discovery disputes as both sides gear up for trial.
Inside The Allegations About The 'Rabbit Crew'
At the center of the case is a group of regular male customers referred to as the "rabbit crew." The complaint accuses these patrons of hugging and groping female staff and creating a hostile work environment. The plaintiffs also say a general manager made ongoing sexualized remarks and anti-trans comments, and they allege that a coworker directed inappropriate sexual comments toward one of the servers. Those allegations surfaced publicly when the suit was first filed, according to City News Service.
Why Burbank Walked And Touchstone Stayed
Judge Murphy concluded there was no evidence that Burbank exercised the operational control over DeBell that would make the city legally responsible under the plaintiffs' theories. City documents show DeBell is city owned but has been operated by Touchstone Golf since December 2018, according to the City of Burbank. Recent court filings indicate the judge has ordered depositions and compelled production of electronic records in multiple hearings, underscoring that the focus now is squarely on the course operator’s conduct, per Rulings.law.
What Comes Next For The Lawsuit
With the city out of the case, the lawsuit will proceed solely against Touchstone Golf LLC. Burrows and Lundberg are still seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Because the judge left the punitive damages claim intact, the plaintiffs can continue to pursue evidence aimed at showing willful or oppressive conduct by Touchstone. More hearings and depositions are expected before a trial date is set, according to MyNewsLA.
