Malibu Starbucks Worker Claims Sexual Harassment, Hostile Work Environment: Suit

MALIBU, CA — A former barista at a Starbucks store in Malibu is suing the company, claiming she was forced to resign after management did not do enough to stop her two male coworkers from sexually harassing her.

Elisabeth Bradley's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges sexual harassment, failure to prevent harassment and constructive termination. In the suit, filed Tuesday, Bradley seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

The 29-year-old Bradley was hired in October at the Cross Creek Road store. Bradley claims she was harassed by two male coworkers, who subjected her to inappropriate comments, unwanted touching and explicit jokes, which created a hostile work environment for her, according to the suit.

One coworker repeatedly called her "beautiful and ravishing," the suit states.

Bradley's direct supervisor did nothing when she complained, so she then reached out to the district manager, who mocked her, became upset and told her to stand in front of the store and make her complaints to him there, the suit alleges.

"Plaintiff felt a rush of embarrassment and frustration, as both customers and her colleagues were staring at her while she was forced to make her complaints of sexual harassment," the suit states.

The second coworker began his harassment in March; Bradley once again raised her concerns to her direct supervisor and the district manager. The district manager told Bradley she was not a victim of sexual harassment and that there would be no investigation into her claims, according to the suit.

When Bradley asked to be scheduled so as to avoid the two men, the district manager told her the accommodation would be "inconvenient," according to the suit.

Bradley went on medical leave in late March due to her emotional distress resigned in April because she could no longer tolerate her work environment, according to the suit.

A Starbucks representative did not immediately return a request for comment.

City News Service contributed to this report.