Ex-Host's Retaliation, Harassment Suit Against Barney's Beanery Returns for Motions Hearing

A motions hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 3 brought back the long-running employment suit by former Barney’s Beanery Pasadena evening host Cody Rich, whose complaint says he was fired in June 2022 after reporting sexual harassment. The complaint, filed July 17, 2023, names Barney’s Beanery Pasadena at 99 E. Colorado Blvd. and several managers and seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

The complaint identifies a manager named Kiana Fanning and alleges a pattern of unwanted conduct, saying Fanning began “leaning in close and having inappropriate physical contact” and “would also take advantage of her position to take the plaintiff to isolated areas of the restaurant on the pretense of needing assistance with work, but in reality to facilitate sexual harassment in a more private setting.” The filing says those advances continued despite that Fanning was “not deterred by Rich’s repeated rejections.”

Rich’s suit also asserts disability discrimination tied to diabetes. The complaint states he disclosed his diabetic condition to a regional manager when hired in 2021 and that the regional manager “said it would not be a problem.” The complaint alleges that after reporting the harassment, management reduced his hours during an internal investigation and later accused him of being intoxicated at work at a time he says he was suffering high blood sugar.

The complaint includes claims for violations of California wage and hour laws, saying the restaurant failed to pay for missed meal and rest breaks and omitted minimum wage and overtime pay for all hours worked. The filing also lists negligent retention and negligent supervision among the causes of action and describes that Rich worked occasional security shifts because he had a wrestling background.

Pretrial activity has been contentious. In April 2025 Judge Virginia Keeny granted a defense motion requiring Rich to return for a second deposition after the defense said he “arrived late for the first day of his deposition, left two hours early and did not appear for the second day.” In response, Rich’s filings contend the defense engaged in “abusive litigation conduct.” As of May 2025 the complaint notes the restaurant had not issued a public statement about the lawsuit.

The March 3 motions hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in Department 45 at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, where the court will address outstanding pretrial disputes and motions that could shape whether the matter proceeds to trial. One widely circulated summary of the case incorrectly included a line about a bail decision; that language appears inconsistent with the civil claims pled in the complaint and is likely erroneous.