Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Ex-Waitress Sues College Bar, Claims She Was Humiliated By Skimpy Uniform and Objectified By Bosses [UPDATED]
Courtney Scaramella used to work at O'Hara's in Westwood, until she got fed up of having to put on a skimpy skirt and subject herself to "embarrassing" rituals endorsed by the bar owners. The ex-employee has filed a suit, claiming her complaints about the dress code and the work environment led to her termination.
The 23-year-old former waitress says that she was dismayed when O'Hara's introduced the new plaid school-girl style mini skirts that were held together with Velcro last fall, according to CBS2. Her lawsuit against the bar's owners indicates that management would place fans on the floor angled so that they would blow up the waitresses' skirts while they rang up patrons, exposing their rear ends.
Additionally, Scaramella says the objectification of women extended to the patrons as well, citing a the bar's system of allowing male customers to rate the "hotness" of the female customers, and rewarding top vote-getters with shots of booze.
“They just can’t treat people like this,” said Scaramella. “What’s right is right and this was not fair.” She says she was humiliated, objectified and sexually harassed by a co-owner and a manager while on the job.
Support for LAist comes from
O'Hara's--formerly known as Maloney's--is described on Yelp as "the quintessential college bar with terrible service. Definitely a dive bar that tries to be a club," and "the place where UCLA has-beens go to prey on the fresh meat."
Scaramella says she sent the owners a written complaint, but as a consequence, while the dress code was dropped, the server found her hours cut and was ultimately let go. She had been employed by the bar for four and a half years.
O'Hara's lawyers say Scaramella quit, and they are not interested in offering her a settlement.
UPDATE Nov. 23, 2012: Management of O'Hara's have settled with Scaramella out of court. "Attorneys notified Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Terry Green on Nov. 2 that Courtney Scaramella's case against O'Hara's [...] was resolved, according to court records," City News Service reports today. The terms of the settlement were not divulged.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzOTZweCIgd2lkdGg9IjY0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding.
-
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline.
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist