Shocking Lawsuit: LA Bartender Alleges Drugging and Assault at Soho House

A bartender at an exclusive private club in downtown Los Angeles has filed a shocking lawsuit, claiming she was drugged and raped by her supervisor. She alleges he once remarked that if they had met earlier, she would already be pregnant.

The plaintiff, referred to in legal documents as Jane Doe, has brought a case against Soho House and her supervisor, Leonard Marcelo Vichique Maya, in Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit includes accusations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and other employment-related grievances at the elite Soho Warehouse.

As per the complaint, which was examined by the LA Times, Doe began her role as a bartender at Soho House’s Berenjak restaurant in September 2025.

She claims that almost immediately, Vichique Maya began to subject her to persistent sexual advances and unwanted physical contact.

The lawsuit details that he frequently commented on her appearance and suggested she become his “hook-up buddy,” with such remarks allegedly made in front of other staff members, as per the court filings.

Approximately two weeks into her employment, Doe claims she reported these incidents to two male managers, specifically the club’s floor manager and the director of food and beverage. However, she asserts that they failed to take any corrective or investigative actions.

Her attorney, Nick Yasman of West Coast Trial Lawyers, blasted the company in a statement.

“This is as egregious an instance of callous corporate indifference to workplace sexual violence that anyone can experience,” Yasman said.

The complaint alleges the situation escalated following a September 13 “team-bonding” event.

Doe claims she became disoriented after drinking with colleagues, blacked out and later awoke naked in Vichique Maya’s apartment.

“Paralyzed and speechless despite her consciousness slowly returning, Plaintiff was condemned to simply watch in horror as [sic] MARCELO repeatedly raped her inanimate body,” the suit states.

Doe says she reported the alleged assault the next day.

According to the filing, her general manager told her “these things happen between coworkers” and later said, “I have a restaurant to run; I can’t have it blow up on me,” when she insisted she could no longer work with him.

Despite informing three managers she had been “raped,” Doe alleges she continued to be scheduled alongside Vichique Maya. After filing a complaint with human resources in December, she says she was placed on indefinite leave while he remained on the job.

A month later, she was told her report was “uncorroborated” and he “would not be disciplined.” She resigned in February.

Founded in London in 1995, Soho House has expanded to dozens of locations worldwide and counts high-profile investors, including Ron Burkle and Ashton Kutcher.

The company went private last year in a $2.7 billion deal involving Apollo Global Management. The Post reached out to Soho House for comment.

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