A $13.5 million lawsuit was filed against a former employee at a Black Butte Ranch restaurant Thursday by a group of mostly young men who say he inappropriately touched them and sexually abused them while on the job.

The suit also alleges Black Butte Ranch management told some victims not to take their concerns to police, although the case was investigated.

A group of nine plaintiffs, whose ages range from 15 to 25, filed a 26-page complaint in Deschutes County Circuit Court on Thursday against longtime Robert’s Pub employee Glenn Michael Woosley, Black Butte Ranch, its CEO, pub managers and the head of human resources.

The suit alleges gender and sex discrimination, a hostile work environment, sexual assault or battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence based on instances dating back to 2021.

What began as a busboy gig at Robert’s Pub for then 18-year-old Brody Anderson turned into a traumatic experience, Anderson, one of the plaintiffs, told The Bulletin on Thursday.

“It’s something that’s going to affect me for the rest of my life,” said Anderson, who appeared at a press conference and agreed to talk to a reporter. “It’s just a bad memory. It’s just something I try not to think about.”

Anderson was one of three people who took their concerns about Woosley to the Black Butte Ranch Police Department in 2022. Anderson said Thursday he wants Woosley to serve more time.

Woosley, 77, pleaded no contest to two third-degree sex abuse charges and a harassment charge in 2023, according to court records. He served 30 days in jail as a result and was mandated to engage in a sex-offender evaluation and any recommended treatment. The results of the evaluation are unclear.

When reached by phone Thursday morning, Woosley said the matter had already been taken care of.

“This happened two years ago,” he said. “I already went to court, and I’ve already taken care of all that.”

He declined to comment further.

A statement from Black Butte Ranch said Woosley had been terminated. 

“Though we are still learning, we take this suit extremely seriously and reiterate our strong support and compassion for the employees who experienced harassment,” said Kyle Cummings, CEO of Black Butte Ranch. “Our top priority has always been, and will continue to be, creating a safe and welcoming environment for our employees, homeowners, and guests.”

‘Mr. Black Butte’

Woosley had worked for Black Butte Ranch for nearly 40 years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Much of that time was spent as a waiter, but he eventually took on a supervisory position.

Woosley was well-known by pub customers and ranch homeowners. He was known as “Mr. Black Butte,” according to the lawsuit.

“People will call in specially to dine in his area at Roberts Pub, he is very well known throughout the ranch and is loved by the ranch owners,” a 2022 police report by the Black Butte Ranch Police Department reads.

However, he allegedly had a much different, darker reputation in the back of house, or outside the purview of the dining room.

He was known for “sexual harassment and misconduct against staff,” the lawsuit reads.

One of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, Jason Kafoury, called Woosley a predator in the press conference Thursday.

Busboys, chefs, line cooks, dishwashers and a host and server were his targets between 2021 and 2022, according to the lawsuit.

One boy was 15 years old when Woosley grabbed the boy’s buttocks multiple times and touched his nose to the boy’s nose, the lawsuit reads.

He also “fondled” a 17-year-old’s genitals twice, the lawsuit said. He rubbed an 18-year-old’s genitals over his clothes, according to the suit.

He allegedly “fondled” an 18-year-old’s woman’s breast in July 2022, which she reported to management at the time. Robert’s Pub manager, Georgio Glinsky, allegedly attempted to persuade her to not contact police. Another Black Butte manager laughed when speaking with the 18-year-old about it days later.

According to the suit, Woosley would often make lewd comments to employees; he would sniff their necks, question their sexuality, grab their buttocks and purposefully walk up behind them.

“Plaintiffs rejected Woosley’s sexual advances and told him to stop the abusive and offensive conduct. Woosley ignored the plaintiffs’ objections and continued the unwanted conduct,” according to the lawsuit.

The suit details the impact of Woosley’s alleged conduct: anxiety, helplessness, emotional distress, personal violation, anger, embarrassment, fear.

The suit alleges Black Butte Ranch “aided and assisted” Woosley “by failing to take prompt and effective remedial action” against him after his reputation for inappropriate behavior became known.

“By failing to take any remedial action against Woosley’s continued verbal and physical sexual abuse of its employees, including plaintiffs, defendants allowed, condoned, and encouraged Woosley’s unlawful and outrageous conduct to continue,” the lawsuit reads.

Attorneys for the nine plaintiffs, Kafoury and Chris Larsen, said they met with Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels on Thursday to discuss reopening the criminal investigation into Woosley.

Gunnels told The Bulletin that he is deferring to the Black Butte Ranch Police Department.

“It’s their decision whether to investigate the case or whether to ask for either a referral to another agency or assistance from another agency,” he said.