WESTWOOD, Calif. KTLA) — A former employee of a popular Westwood bar has filed a civil lawsuit against the establishment, claiming she was sexually harassed, forced to wear a skimpy outfit and then fired when she complained.
Courtney Scaramella, is suing O’Hara’s for sexual harassment, wrongful termination and unpaid wages, according to a complaint filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on May 24.
She is suing co-owner Jack Bendetti and general manager Ronald McDonnel, along with the bar itself.
Scaramella, 23, said a new manager began working at the bar and required female waitresses to wear skimpy plaid schoolgirl skirts.
“It wasn’t fair to me, it wasn’t fair to the other girls who were working there,” she said.
“Everyone was offended by it. Nobody wanted to do it, but unfortunately, jobs are hard to come by right now and some people were stuck.”
Scaramella tried the new outfit for a few days before refusing to wear it. That’s when she was fired, said her attorney, Tonic Jaramilla.
“Thereafter, her hours were cut,” Jaramilla said. “She was not given the same shifts that would allow her to gain good tips and income and then she was terminated.”
Scaramella — who worked at the bar since 2007 and was fired earlier this year — is seeking money to compensate her for the wages she lost and the stress she claims to have incurred on the job, according to her complaint.
An attorney representing O’Hara’s owners said Sacarmella’s lawsuit has no merit and that she was not fired. The attorney claimed Scaramella quit her job for unknown reasons.
