Black Butte Ranch responds to abuse lawsuit by 9 former employees, urges workers to come forward with such issues

(Update: Resort media statement, letter to BBR workers, community; DA, BBR police chief comments)

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- One day after nine former Black Butte Ranch employees filed a $13.5 million civil lawsuit against the resort and a 77-year-old fired server, alleging sexual abuse, assault, harassment and negligence, the resort issued a media statement and a letter to workers and the community, urging any employees with similar issues to come forward and vowing to take such matters "extremely seriously."

Meanwhile, Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels, who met with the plaintiffs' attorneys, said he sent the information they provided to Black Butte Ranch police and was assured and is "confident that these allegations will be investigated fully."

Friday's media statement and letter did not speak to the specific allegations in the lawsuit filed Thursday in Deschutes County Circuit Court, which accuses Glenn Michael Woosley of sexual abuse and harassment of the former employees when they worked at Robert's Pub at the resort, and the resort of failing to take adequate steps after learning of his alleged actions.

Many of them worked as busboys or kitchen staff, and at the time were 15 to 17 years old.

"It makes day-to-day life still uncomfortable, working with older men, or seeing older men. There's just some part of me that just feels that still inside," alleged victim Colin Palmer told reporters at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Here's the resort's media statement, in full:

"On June 27, 2024, a lawsuit was filed in follow-up to the conviction of terminated employee Michael Woosley for sexual harassment of several former employees. Woosley was sentenced to 30 days in jail for his behavior. The lawsuit alleges sexual harassment and other misconduct.

“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.”

"Our leadership team will continue to work with our community to provide as much transparency as possible regarding our efforts to keep the Ranch a place that is welcoming and safe for all. In that spirit, tonight we shared the attached open letter to employees and members of the Black Butte Ranch community."

The letter to employees and the community from resort CEO Kyle Cummings, who assumed that duty last August, praises the "brave" BBR workers who came forward in 2022 with "essential information about inexcusable behavior" by Woosley, which led to his termination and 2023 conviction for his actions.

As for the new lawsuit, Cummings wrote, "We take the claims in this suit extremely seriously and reiterate our support for any of our employees who experienced harassment from Woosley."

The resort leader also detailed several ways "we work to ensure a culture of safety and dignity," including required sexual harassment training for all new managers and employees and enforcing an anti-harassment policy "by swiftly intervening upon learning of any concern," as they did in firing Woosley.

(Editor's note: You can find the full letter below, after the lawsuit document.)

According to his LinkedIn page, Woosley worked at the pub for almost 40 years and referred to himself as Mr. Black Butte Ranch. Public records show he still resides in Sisters

Another alleged victim, Brody Anderson, said, "He was a long-term employee - he had lots of people fooled. I had families come in to see him, making reservations and everything. So he's deeply embedded in the Black Butte community."

The lawsuit also alleges management at Robert's Pub was made aware of the harassment and assault in 2022, but told two of the alleged victims not to go to the police. 

The complaint, which names Black Butte Ranch Corp., the association and several individuals along with Woosley, alleges gender and sex discrimination, a hostile work environment, sexual assault and battery, negligence and "intentional infliction of emotional distress."

Woosley was placed on administrative leave and eventually fired.

Court documents show in November of 2022, Woosley entered a no-contest plea (accepting a sentence as part of a plea deal, but not admitting guilt) to two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of harassment, all Class A misdemeanors. Woosley was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 18 months probation after being accused of sexually groping two male employees and a female employee.

Palmer recounted his own experience.

"I was touched numerous times in numerous places and (he) made very inappropriate comments," he said, "and I also watched as my coworkers also received inappropriate comments and also assaulted."

This is not the first time former employees have sued Black Butte Ranch.

In 2007, the ranch was sued for discrimination after a former employee claimed a manager at the main resort favored male employees over females.  The ranch denied those allegations.

In 2008, The Bulletin also reported a second female employee sued the ranch for discrimination and harassment, alleging a manager locked her in a storage room and inappropriately touched her. 

In the new lawsuit, the alleged victims' attorney, Jason Kafoury, said, "People like this, that could treat young boys - and one of our clients is a woman, but most of them are young boys - that could treat people like this, they deserve a lot harsher sentence than just 30 days (in jail)."

Attorneys for the alleged victim also said they had met with the DA's office about whether further criminal charges could be warranted.

Gunnels confirmed the meeting and said he was deferring the matter to the Black Butte Ranch Police Department, which would decide whether to investigate the claims, refer the case to another agency or seek outside assistance.

 Gunnels told NewsChannel 21 on Saturday: "The District Attorney’s Office received investigative materials from plaintiffs’ attorneys, and we have forwarded that information to law enforcement for further investigation.

"Which law enforcement agency investigates is up to the agencies themselves, but I have been assured and I am confident that these allegations will be investigated fully," the DA said.

Black Butte Ranch Police Chief Jason Van Meter said in a news release the the DA's office made the department aware "that potential additional victims have reported potential additional criminal actions" by Woosley.

"As we do with any report of criminal activity, the Black Butte Ranch Police Department has initiated an investigation into those reports," Van Meter said.

Below is the filed lawsuit:

Here is the letter the resort sent to its employees and the community: