A sexual harassment lawsuit against a billionaire Paso Robles winery owners has been dismissed.
Halter Ranch owner Johann Georg Wyss will not have to see the case through court after both sides requested the case to be dismissed.
Flashback: Former Halter Ranch employees Madison Busby and Bryce Mullins filed lawsuits against Wyss in April for sexual harassment.
- They claimed Wyss sexually harassed Busby for nearly five years and also reneged on a promise to give Mullins significant equity in the winery.
- Busby and Mullins, who are married, moved into a home on the Halter Ranch property in 2020. Mullins had been working as the manager of Halter Ranch and met Busby the year prior.
- Busby alleged that Wynn made sexual comments at her and groped her when they met in 2019. The harassment allegedly continued throughout the years with claims that Wyss asked them for a threesome and a foursome.
- Mullins accused Wyss of promising him equity in the winery worth at least $30 million without ever delivering.
- Halter Ranch denied all of the allegations and said Busby and Mullins took advantage of Wyss’s generosity.
- Wyss went on to file a cross complaint accusing Mullins of breaching his fiduciary duty and loyalty by not reporting the alleged sexual harassment to human resources.
State of play: The requests for dismissal were signed on July 31 and filed on Aug. 8.
- The dismissal documents did not include any details of a possible settlement.
What they’re saying: “All parties agreed to dismiss the claims and we are pleased to put this matter to an end,” a Halter Ranch spokesperson told the San Luis Obispo Tribune. “Mr. Wyss has denied the allegations in the original complaints and continues to maintain he acted appropriately. This dismissal allows everyone involved to move on without further dispute.”
