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# Gay bar pays off former worker
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/gay-bar-pays-off-former-worker/
- Published: 2003-12-03T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:17:34.000Z
- Author: John Wood
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Man sued for sexual discrimination*

The operators of a gay bar in West Hollywood agreed in a settlement hashed out here last week to pay a former worker an undisclosed amount to drop a sexual battery and harassment lawsuit.

Lawyers for Revolver, the bar, and David Northrup, a straight man who did marketing and promotion there briefly in 2001, stayed late Tuesday at the courthouse, working out the terms of the confidential agreement with Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Alan Haber.

In the lawsuit, Northrup claimed he was fired by the bar’s owner on trumped up charges of selling illegal drugs. Northrup maintained he was actually fired because he was straight and he repeatedly objected to the forthright comments and actions of his gay co-workers and customers.

But Mark Bates, owner of Revolver, said Northrup resigned on his own. He said he spent tens of thousands of dollars before finally settling the case to stem the loss.

Bates declined to comment on the settlement because it’s confidential by law. Asked if he was happy with it, he said, “No. I am pissed off. I think I was set up. I think he intended to get fired from the very beginning, and I just ran out of money and I couldn’t afford it.”

According to his complaint, Northrup was repeatedly accosted by gay customers and co-workers who commented that he was attractive and made explicit sexual innuendoes, also speaking openly of their sexual conquests.

Northrup could not be reached for comment. His lawyer declined to comment on the case, saying it would violate the confidentiality of the settlement.

In his legal complaint, Northrup targeted senior manager John St. Jarre and co-worker Bo Trumball. He said St. Jarre repeatedly failed to protect him from sexual battery and harassment, and actually made the situation worse on several instances by laughing at the activity.

Northrup was hired in January of 2001 and was only employed for three weeks. Bates agreed to pay him the greater of $750 a week or 5 percent of gross profits at the bar, according to court documents. In the lawsuit, Northrup was seeking back and future pay, punitive damages for the alleged harassment and battery, and lawyer fees.

“We’ve been here for 22 years,” said Bates, sounding frustrated and exhausted by the ordeal. “This is the first employee lawsuit that we’ve ever encountered.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 3, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/120303.pdf?ref=smdp.com)