'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Star Denies Sexually Harassing Former Restaurant Employee

Posted Alexander Nguyen

The assistant manager for a Beverly Hills restaurant owned by "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Vanderpump and her husband told a jury Monday that it was wrong for him to yell at a server, but he denied that he sexually harassed or committed other misconduct.

Michael Govia took the stand in his own defense in the trial of Karina Bustillos' lawsuit. He was once her boss at Villa Blanca restaurant.

"I did think it was out of my character to yell at a server," Govia said.

He said he left voice mail messages for Bustillos to apologize, but she never returned his calls.

Bustillos filed her case in Angeles Superior Court in October 2012, naming Govia, the restaurant, Vanderpump and the reality star's husband, Ken Todd.

Bustillos maintains Govia caused pain in her wrists when he took hold and twisted them after she asked for change for a $20 bill so she could distribute tips at the end of her shift on Aug. 13, 2012.

Four months earlier, Govia tried to kiss the plaintiff, she alleges.

Questioned by his attorney, Marieanne Zakarian, Govia testified he did not tell Vanderpump and Todd anything about Bustillos' allegations until after she filed her lawsuit. He said neither of them were individuals to whom he reported problems with employees.

However, he said he did discuss the August 2012 incident with then-Villa Blanca general manager Andrew Morrison and acknowledged that he yelled at Bustillos.

"I admitted I did something wrong," he said.

Govia said he found out about the lawsuit from a friend who read a posting on a celebrity website. He said the lawsuit's allegations were far beyond what actually happened between him and Bustillos.

"I was shocked," he said. "It was blown out of proportion."

Govia said Vanderpump asked him if he remembered the alleged wrist- grabbing incident.

"She was as shocked as I was," he said. "She asked, 'Michael, what is this?"'

Todd also asked for an explanation, Govia said.

"I scratched my head and said, 'Did I just black out?"' Govia said. "It was just that the whole thing was huge beyond what happened."

Bustillos worked at Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills for about 14 months until September 2012, when she maintains she quit because she could not take the stress of remaining there any longer. She alleges the eatery violated its own policies against sexual harassment by not doing anything to punish Govia for his alleged misconduct.

Testimony in the trial of Bustillos' suit is in its second week, with final arguments scheduled for Wednesday.

— City News Service