A woman has dropped her lawsuit against the landmark Langer’s Delicatessen in which she alleged she was sexually harassed by its owner, Norm Langer, while working as a server.
Paola Morales also contended in her Los Angeles Superior Court complaint that she was badgered by a co-worker due to her mental health issues. On June 3, Morales’ attorney filed court papers with Judge Peter Hernandez asking that the plaintiff’s case be dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be refiled.
The court papers do not state whether a settlement was reached or if Morales is not pursuing the case for other reasons. On May 28, the judge had scheduled a hearing in August asking Morales why her case should not be dismissed for an alleged failure to prosecute and for a non-appearance by her or her attorney at the May hearing.
Langer, 81, made news in 2024 when he said he was tired of the crime in the restaurant’s neighborhood, which includes MacArthur Park, and that he might close it if conditions were not improved. But Langer told the Los Angeles Times that he supported the city’s subsequent work toward combating crime at the park.
Morales’ complaint alleged multiple causes of action, including sexual harassment and discrimination, assault, battery, retaliation and infliction of emotional distress.
A Langer’s representative previously issued a statement regarding the lawsuit.
“For more than 75 years, Langer’s Deli has been a cornerstone of the Los Angeles community, built on a legacy of integrity, respect, and service. We remain firmly committed to providing a safe, inclusive and professional workplace for every employee,” the statement read. “While we do not litigate in the media, we take this matter seriously and will respond through the appropriate legal channels.”
In her lawsuit, Morales said Langer made inappropriate remarks to her throughout her employment at the deli, some with sexual innuendo after she was hired as a server in October 2022. Morales, who had previously told Langer his sexual jokes made her very uncomfortable, asked him to stop making offensive statements, the suit stated.
However, Langer repeated the joke and walked away, the suit stated.
Langer often pulled on Morales’ hair and said words to the effect that men would like to pull her hair while being intimate with her, according to the suit, which further stated that Langer asked her if she wanted a “sugar daddy.”
“Paola was confused, hurt and anxious as a result of Mr. Langer’s sexual harassment and related conduct,” the suit stated.
After Morales complained about Langer’s alleged behavior, he retaliated by criticizing her and saying she was “being emotional” and also said things that embarrassed her in front of customers, the suit stated.
Morales also alleged that restaurant management allowed a co-worker to harass her because of a disability she has related to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after she was physically attacked by a brother-in-law two years earlier. The other employee, also a server, triggered trauma in her when he tripped over her last September and later called her “bipolar,” the suit stated.
When Morales complained to management about the co-worker’s alleged conduct, she was told she “needed to be the bigger person” and “grow thicker skin,” the suit stated. Morales resigned the same month out of frustration with her work environment and her final pay check was $200 short, the suit stated.
Morales did not get another job until a month-and-a-half later and her time at Langer’s has left her with “devastating and lasting stress, depression, financial strain, worsened anxiety and distrust in people,” the suit filed in June 2025 stated.