Phillips & Associates Files Three Federal Sexual Harassment Lawsuits for Former Hosts at New York Restaurant Semma

Phillips & Associates, a New York employment law firm, filed three separate federal lawsuits on July 27, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of Charlotte Swett, Tessa Tookes, and Nina Zhuo, former hosts at the acclaimed restaurant Semma. The complaints name Unapologetic Foods LLC and Tapestry Management LLC as defendants.

The complaints allege that Santo Pesantez, who held authority as Director of Operations for Unapologetic Foods and interim manager at Semma, engaged in a pattern of sexualized and racially charged comments, unwanted physical advances, and inappropriate physical contact toward the plaintiffs. The lawsuits further allege that Pesantez improperly accessed restaurant security cameras to monitor female guests, including actress Kate Hudson, without authorization. The plaintiffs contend that Pesantez's position of authority created a power imbalance that made it difficult for them to reject his conduct or report it.

On January 22, 2026, all three plaintiffs jointly reported Pesantez's alleged conduct to human resources. The complaints invoke Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law. The defendants have not yet responded in court. The case numbers are 1:26-cv-06382, 1:26-cv-06385, and 1:26-cv-06386.

This is a curated brief from the PlaintiffWire news desk. Read the original report at PR Newswire Legal.