Bergen Starbucks Manager Was Fired Unfairly, Lawsuit Says: Report

PARK RIDGE, NJ — A former Bergen County Starbucks manager claimed she was terminated from her job after an employee was arrested for spitting in police officers' drinks, a report said.

Kelly Hansen-Grosman was the manager on duty when an employee was accused of spitting in police officers' drinks in 2020 at a Park Ridge Starbucks. Police said they began investigating the matter after receiving tips that an employee of the store was spitting in the drinks of law enforcement officers who went there.

The employee, who was 21 at the time, was a Westwood resident. He was charged with charged with subjecting an officer to bodily fluids, knowingly tampering with the drink of a law enforcement officer and creating a hazardous or dangerous condition.

Hansen-Grosman alleges she was mistreated by higher-ups at Starbucks and eventually fired, as well as discriminated against after because of her attention deficit disorder diagnosis, the report from NJ.com said. She had worked at several stores in Bergen County and had 20 years with the company, according to NJ.com.

Hansen-Grosman is seeking monetary compensation for damages, according to NJ.com.