Rancho Gordo

Napa Valley Bean Company Rancho Gordo Granted New Trial in Discrimination Lawsuit | Eater SF

"At the center of this legal fight is Rancho Gordo, a Napa-based bean company founded by bean evangelist Steve Sando and known largely for its cult-favorite monthly bean club. I note that the company has been sued by former shipping-department worker Martha Martinez, who filed suit in 2021 alleging sex, national origin and pregnancy discrimination as well as retaliation and wrongful termination after being placed at the company via a staffing agency in late 2019; Martinez says coworkers made derogatory comments about her race, she told some coworkers she was pregnant in early 2020, and two days after notifying her supervisor of a family emergency she was terminated. A jury in March 2023 awarded Martinez nearly $252,000 after four days of deliberations, finding the company liable for pregnancy discrimination and retaliation, but Judge Cynthia Smith later overturned the retaliation verdict and has now granted Rancho Gordo’s motion for a new trial, concluding there was insufficient evidence that director of operations Jason Lucero knew Martinez was pregnant or that her firing was motivated by discriminatory animus. Rancho Gordo’s attorney Shane Anderie called the ruling a "temporary vindication," saying the company will prepare for a new trial and describing the legal process as "surprisingly daunting for a local small business to defend itself," while Martinez’s attorney Arlo Uriarte expects both sides to appeal; a status conference is set for August 25." - Lauren Saria