Crime & Safety
Man Says He Was Wrongfully Fired For Complaints Against Petco
The claims in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit include wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation and hostile work environment.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Petco is being sued by a former employee who alleges he was wrongfully fired in 2020 from the company's Porter Ranch store in retaliation for complaining about the alleged defrauding of customers and unsafe conditions of dog kennels.
The claims in Jeff Murdock's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit include wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation, hostile work environment and various state labor code violations. He seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the suit filed Monday.
A Petco representative could not be immediately reached for comment.
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Murdock was hired as a pet stylist in November 2010 and last July began complaining about the company's alleged practice of charging customers for grooming products that were not actually being used, the suit states. He also refused to offer customers upgrades to basic grooming services when he knew that the products, including shampoos and conditioners, were not in stock, the suit states.
Petco management was not pleased with Murdock's actions because "they were focused solely on increasing sales numbers and revenue," according to the suit.
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From 2017-20, Murdock also complained about the alleged unsafe maintenance of dog kennels, including locking mechanisms so rusted that animals could push doors open and get out, the suit states.
"Plaintiff himself and his co-workers witnessed dogs escape this way," the suit alleges. "This posed a serious safety concern because the escaped dogs could attack other pets, customers or employees in the store."
Murdock told management about the kennel problem, but it was not treated as a priority and they were not fixed for at least another month, according to the suit.
Murdock was suspended Sept. 25, 2020, five days after he brought up the kennel safety issue, the suit states. He was then fired two days later and told it was for "violation of policy and procedure," the suit states.
Murdock alleges he was actually fired because he complained about safety and fraud issues and due to his age. Murdock is in his 50s and most Petco employees are in their 20s and 30s, the suit states.
Within the last few years of his employment, Murdock was often called an "old man" or a "father figure," according to the suit.
—City News Service
