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Lawsuit alleges sexual battery and harassment by Halter Ranch owner Former employee claims years of misconduct, retaliation, and broken promises by Swiss billionaire and Paso Robles winery owner By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — A civil lawsuit has been filed in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court against Swiss billionaire businessman Hansjörg Wyss, alleging sexual harassment, sexual battery, and retaliation by a former employee, Madison Busby. Wyss is also the owner of Halter Ranch Winery, located in the Adelaida area of Paso Robles. According to the complaint, Busby endured years of alleged misconduct while employed at Halter Ranch Winery. The suit details alleged repeated lewd comments and propositions for sex by the 89-year-old, as well as retaliatory actions taken after Busby attempted to distance herself. At the time, Wyss also employed Busby’s husband and allegedly promised him a co-ownership stake in the winery. When Busby rejected Wyss’s advances, the lawsuit claims Wyss withdrew the ownership offer and retaliated against her professionally. Wyss is known for founding medical device company Synthes and for his extensive donations to environmental and progressive causes in the United States. As of 2025, his net worth is estimated between $4.8 billion (Forbes) and $12.7 billion
(Bloomberg). His Wyss Foundation holds nearly $2 billion in assets. Wyss is a major donor to the Democratic Party and has faced scrutiny due to restrictions on political contributions by foreign nationals. In 2024, he donated $100 million to the City of Berne, which granted him honorary citizenship. He is also a co-owner of Chelsea Football Club, a shareholder in the Lalique Group, and co-owner of Scotland’s Glenturret Distillery. After purchasing the then 900-acre Halter Ranch and Vineyard in 2000, Wyss added to the property a 1,800-acre wildlife reserve. The winery has since expanded to include a tasting room in Temecula and Fredericksburg, Texas. According to the lawsuit, Busby, 30, graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in architectural engineering and then worked for Halter Ranch from approximately January 2021 to July 2024 as a project manager. In 2019, Busby met and began dating Halter Ranch General Manager Bryce Mullins. In the lawsuit, Busby describes her first meeting with Wyss in September 2019. The lawsuit states, “While Ms. Busby cooked on the stove, Mr. Wyss, then in his mid-80s and married, deliberately CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Sherman and Michelle Thacher, along with Tony Quealy of Thacher Winery and chef Jonathan Benvenuti, are all smiles at this year’s Paso Wine Fest. Photo by Mira Honeycutt/PRP
Paso Wine Fest 2025 toasts to style with Strauss sponsorship
Four days of top-tier wine, culinary pairings, and vibrant lounges mark a stylish new era for Paso’s signature event BY MIRA HONEYCUTT
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA) scored big this year by corralling sponsorship from Strauss, Europe’s leading workwear company based in Germany. “It’s a pretty sizable sponsor,” said Joel Peterson, executive director of PRWCA. “We have a one-year deal but it can be a three-year deal if we want to. They love Paso Robles; they love the brand and we’re excited to deal with them.” Peterson added that Strauss has sponsored other well-known brands, such as the 2024 World Series and the Kansas City Chiefs
with logos on the teams’ uniforms. And, yes, PRWCA members get a 20% discount on purchases of Strauss workwear. This year, the Paso Wine Fest kicked off, spotlighting Central Coast culinary masters. The Friday night Paired Paso celebration held at the Paso Robles Event Center brought together nine chefs who paired their cuisine with nine local winemakers. From the looks and taste of the spread, they were all top-notch. The four-day extravaganza, PRWCA’s annual signature event, was held from May 15 through 18 and bookended with Thursday winemaker dinners and Sunday winery open houses. Friday’s culinary event was
SLO Sheriff’s Rodeo ropes record crowd and community praise Fourth annual event draws over 13,000, adds concert, honors legacy, and raises record funds for law enforcement
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Paso Robles tackles youth sports field shortage
City Council explores field upgrades, lighting, and new park plans as sports participation outpaces facility capacity By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s Rodeo returned bigger and better than ever this year, drawing more than 13,000 attendees over the weekend and cementing its reputation as one of the Central Coast’s favorite rodeos. Now in its fourth year, the event saw record-breaking attendance, an expanded schedule, and an impressive lineup of events, including everything from breakaway roping and team sorting to mutton bustin’ and bull riding. Hosted at the Paso Robles Event Center, the rodeo celebrated Western culture, community spirit, and law enforcement appreciation. “This year was huge and proba-
followed by the Saturday Grand Tasting, which drew a crowd of some 2,700, including attendees, vendors, wineries, and volunteers. Friday night, tantalizing aromas filled the VIP Lounge, where some 210 foodies gathered to experience the Paired Paso soiree. There was a carousel of global flavors from Spanish Jamon de Iberico and grilled yakitori with quail egg to North African merguez sausage. A trio of judges, Rachel Ponce, Adam Monteil, and Michel Barrera, picked Justin Munson as the winner of the Judges Choice. The owner of Oak & Wine Catering cooked
Crowd witnesses the opening ceremonies for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Rodeo in Paso Robles. Photo by Chuck & Vikki Houck
bly the best rodeo we’ve had yet,” said Rodeo President and San Luis Obispo County Undersheriff Chad Nicholson. A key new addition this year was a Friday night kickoff concert featuring country music star Easton Corbin, which drew approximately 4,000 attendees. Nicholson credited the success of the concert to early planning and a partnership with local promoter Todd Newman of
Good Medicine Presents. “He [Corbin] played a concert on Friday night to get the weekend started ... And that was great — it was a success for our first year standalone concert,” Nicholson said. The rodeo itself saw a crowd of more than 8,000 on Saturday night. Professional competitors — some with national titles under their belts — praised the event’s organization, payouts,
and overall experience. Each year since its inception, the rodeo has increased in size and attendance, bringing families and competitors back year after year. When asked if he ever thought the rodeo would have this reaction from the community, Nicholson said, “I hoped we would, but I didn’t think we would have it this fast, to be honest with you. The
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PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles city officials are taking steps to address the growing demand for youth sports fields following a steady rise in participation over the past five years. In response to capacity and maintenance concerns raised by local sports organizations, the City Council is directing staff to explore both short- and longterm solutions to improve access and quality of sports facilities. Following the March 4 City Council meeting, Recreation Services gathered feedback from local sports field user groups to better understand concerns about access, field conditions, and overall capacity. The outreach included both youth and adult organizations,
with 19 groups — seven adult leagues and 12 youth leagues — serving a combined 3,220 members. Input was received from seven youth organizations and four adult groups, representing about 1,290 members who regularly reserve field space for various sports. Input from organized user groups revealed two main issues: limited field capacity and poor facility conditions. Nine of the 11 responding groups operate year-round, emphasizing the need for lighted fields, especially in colder months. All soccer organizations expressed a strong preference for Barney Schwartz Park due to its superior field quality and amenities, while Sherwood Park was unanimously deemed the least favorable because of safety CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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