Women Accuse Abbey Employees of Rape

Two female patrons of the The Abbey Bar and Restaurant are alleging that they were drugged and raped by the popular nightclub's staff, and are each seeking $10 million in damages from the owners.

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court and first reported by TMZ.com, plaintiffs using the pseudonyms Joanna Doe and Yvette Doe allege that employees served them drinks spiked with drugs, and then carried them out of the rear door of the bar and raped them.

A plaintiff using the pseudonym David Doe is also suing The Abbey on the grounds that the actions of its staff caused significant damage to his relationship with his wife.

The alleged rape of Joanna Doe took place on April 14, 2011. According to the lawsuit, employees conspired to sneak the drugs into her drink, so an employee named Oscar Iraheta could take her to his car parked across the street and rape her.

Yvette Doe, who was dating a female at the time and claims to have never engaged in sexual intercourse with a man, alleges that two employees named in the lawsuit as "Doe 99" and "Doe 100" sneaked date-rape drugs into her drink while she was visibly upset after having an argument with her partner. The lawsuit goes on to allege that the employees then dragged her out of the bar in her drugged stupor and raped her.

The plaintiffs' attorney, Robert W. Hirsch of Beverly Hills, stated in the lawsuit that the women were falsely led to believe the The Abbey provided a safe environment.

Hirsch is arguing that the owners of the Abbey failed to properly train and supervise their employees, and are therefore liable for the alleged rapes of the two women.

"The Abbey was not a safe and secure environment for women; it was dangerous environment for women, where its employees, among others, served unsuspecting patrons, often female, drinks corrupted with date rape drugs and thereafter raped them," the lawsuit states.

It further alleges that the Abbey's owners were permissive of this practice.

"The facts stated above were well known to the owners and operators, who took no meaningful or effective steps to prevent the conduct from occurring," the lawsuit states.

Brian Rosman, a spokesman for the Abbey, released the following statement on behalf of the owners when reached for comment:

"When the incident was brought to our attention, we cooperated fully with the local police on an investigation and no criminal charges were ever filed. We will continue to keep the safety of our customers and employees a top priority, as we have for the past 24 years."

A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for July 23.