Former Host’s Harassment Suit Against Barney’s Beanery Pasadena Returns to Court

A motions hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Los Angeles Superior Court in the wrongful termination and sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former Barney’s Beanery Pasadena host against the Old Town Pasadena restaurant and several of its managers.

Cody Rich, who worked as an evening shift host and occasional security worker at the restaurant at 99 E. Colorado Blvd., alleges in his lawsuit that he was fired in June 2022 in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment by a manager. The case, filed July 17, 2023, also alleges disability discrimination and violations of state wage and hour laws. Tuesday’s hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. in Department 45 at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles.

According to the lawsuit, Rich was hired in 2021 and initially had a good working relationship with Kiana Fanning, a manager, before she allegedly began making unwanted sexual advances toward him, including inappropriate physical contact and isolating him in private areas under the pretense of work, the suit states.

Rich reported Fanning’s behavior to another manager, who told him that Fanning had also propositioned him and advised Rich to “just go with it” if he wanted to keep his job, according to the lawsuit.

After Rich complained, his hours were reduced during an internal investigation that management deemed “inconclusive” due to conflicting employee accounts, the suit states. Management then accused Rich of being intoxicated at work, though Rich says he was experiencing a medical emergency related to his diabetes, which he had disclosed when he was hired, according to the lawsuit.

The suit names Barney’s Beanery Pasadena, Barney’s Pasadena Ltd., Barney’s Worldwide Inc. and several managers as defendants. Rich seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for wrongful termination, disability discrimination, negligent retention and supervision, and violations of state wage and hour laws including missed meal and rest breaks, minimum wage and overtime, according to court records.

The case has had an active pretrial history. In April 2025, Judge Virginia Keeny granted a defense motion requiring Rich to return for a second deposition after he failed to complete the first one. Defense lawyers argued in court filings that Rich arrived late for the first day of his deposition, left two hours early and did not appear for the second day. Rich contended in his filing that the defense was engaged in abusive litigation conduct, according to court records.

As of the most recent reporting in May 2025, the restaurant had not issued a public statement regarding the lawsuit.

Barney’s Beanery, founded in 1920, is a well-known chain of gastropubs with several locations in the Los Angeles area. The Pasadena location, which opened in 2006, occupies a prominent spot on Colorado Boulevard in Old Town.

The court clerk can be reached at 213-633-0645.

Whether the motions hearing will advance the case toward trial or produce other developments remains to be determined by the court.