Jewish Former Nobu Malibu Cook Drops Harassment Suit

MALIBU, CA — A former Nobu Malibu employee has dropped her lawsuit against the celebrity eatery in which she alleged she was subjected to disparate treatment due to her being Jewish and female.

In her Santa Monica Superior Court complaint, the plaintiff identified only as Jane Doe contended that she was forced to resign in 2022 because she could no longer tolerate the conditions, which allegedly included seeing cockroaches in the kitchen.

She sued for gender and religious discrimination, harassment, negligent supervision, retaliation, negligent supervision, hiring and retention, failure to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation and violations of the state Labor Code.

On Friday, Doe's attorneys filed court papers with Judge Mark Young asking that the lawsuit be dismissed "with prejudice," meaning it cannot be refiled. The court papers do not state if a settlement was reached or if the plaintiff is non pursuing the case for other reasons.

In their previous court papers, Nobu attorneys denied Doe's allegation, said they were barred by the statute of limitations and that the plaintiff consented to the alleged conduct she claimed she objected to in the lawsuit. The same lawyers also said the case belonged in arbitration or the workers' compensation arena.

According to Doe's complaint, she was 20 years old when she was hired as a prep cook in June 2022 and later promoted to a line cook, becoming the only female employee to hold the latter position during the night shift.

Doe "was excited for her promotion and eager to learn from the Nobu cooks and chefs," according to the suit, which further stated that her "excitement was short-lived as the promotion drew the ire of plaintiff's male co-workers and plaintiff was forced to work in unsanitary working conditions."

Doe's male co-workers targeted and lashed out at her, maintaining that she was only promoted because she was an attractive woman and said it was proper for her to work in the kitchen because that is where women belong, the suit stated.

In one case a male colleague who was drinking became angry when she stepped into his work area, according to the suit, which further stated that he threw a cup that struck her, yet her supervising chef did nothing despite witnessing what happened.

The same boss also took no action against a male line cook who allegedly delayed the preparation of items she needed, causing a backlog, and he also threatened to slap her, the suit stated.

A shift manager did not respond to her text complaining that "it's hard for me to spend every day working with so many disrespectful guys," the suit stated.

Doe also was subjected to antisemitic tropes that have been the hallmark of anti-Jewish propaganda throughout history, including comments about her nose size and that she was "greedy" and "came from a rich family," the suit stated.

Many of Doe's male co-workers called her "baby" and "princess" and stared at her, the suit added.
Doe, who is allergic to cockroaches, often saw the insects in the Nobu kitchen, including one time when a chef kicked an oven door and they swarmed out, the suit stated.

Doe took still photos and videos of cockroaches in various areas of the kitchen and presented it to the shift manager and her chef supervisors, but the manager told her that kitchen workers were banned from discussing the issue and her supervisors took no action, the suit stated.

Doe eventually obtained a transfer to the Nobu hotel next to the restaurant, but she was not allowed to share in tips and believes the move was retaliatory rather than an accommodation, the suit filed in November 2023 stated.

Management's alleged disregard of her complaints about her work environment prompted Doe to resign in December 2022, according to the suit, which further stated she has suffered from embarrassment, emotional distress, humiliation and mental pain and suffering since leaving her job.

The Nobu restaurants were founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro and producer Meir Teper.