Female Manager Alleges Recurring Sexual Harassment By Male Management at Celebrity Chef David Burke’s Red Horse Restaurant.

Christian V. McOmber, Peter D. Valenzano, and Tiffany M. Yacullo represent Michelle Provost in a sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation lawsuit against celebrity chef David Burke’s restaurant, Red Horse (“Red Horse”) in Rumson, New Jersey.

Ms. Provost was a General Manager at Red Horse who at all times performed her job competently. Despite her exceptional performance and hopes of long-term gainful employment, Ms. Provost claims in her complaint that she found herself subject to intolerable sexual harassment and discrimination.

More specifically, the complaint alleges throughout 2024, the male management of Red Horse subjected Ms. Provost to repeated acts of sexual harassment. It is also claimed that in early summer 2024, Defendant David Burke (“Defendant Burke”) hosted an investors’ dinner at Red Horse where a certain investor, Defendant Gary Last Name Unknown (“Defendant Gary LNU”), tried to kiss Plaintiff while he was intoxicated. Defendant Gary LNU is later alleged to have propositioned Plaintiff and another co-worker to masturbate him in exchange for money. According to the Complaint, Ms. Provost reported this harassment to Defendant Burke, who promised the investor would no longer be allowed at the restaurant. This promise turned out to be false and it is alleged Defendant Gary LNU continued dining at Red Horse.

Ms. Provost further alleges the hostile work environment continued when the sous chef of Red Horse, Defendant Rafael Last Name Unknown (“Defendant Rafael LNU”), begged to meet her outside of work and pleaded that she join him in the bathroom for sex. Plaintiff claims she refused, causing Defendant Rafael LNU to physically drag her to the bathroom until the two were interrupted allowing Plaintiff to escape. It is also alleged that an executive chef, Defendant Leo Last Name Unknown (“Defendant Leo LNU”), openly commented on Plaintiff’s breast size and sexualized nearly every comment she made.

Ms. Provost claims she reported this harassment to management, but her concerns were brushed aside, not investigated, and never remediated. Rather, Ms. Provost claims to have faced a relentless campaign of retaliation. In fact, according to the Complaint, Defendant Burke berated Ms. Provost for falling ill while at work and then terminated her employment claiming she was responsible for Red Horse “losing a couple good chefs.”

On January 3, 2025, Ms. Provost filed her Complaint against Red Horse, Defendant Burke, and the other named Defendants in the New Jersey Superior Court, Monmouth County. “As alleged in the complaint, it is clear Ms. Provost endured egregious sexual harassment throughout her employment with Red Horse by David Burke. Despite her attempts to bring the misconduct to light, Ms. Provost was retaliated against by David Burke and other management figures for having the courage to speak out. We stand united with our client in exposing the outrageous abuse of power.” Peter D. Valenzano, Esq.