CVS faces employee lawsuits over safety incidents and alleged retaliation

CVS Health Corp is being sued by two employees who allege unsafe store conditions and retaliation after they intervened in violent incidents. In Los Angeles, former supervisor Michelle Banegas Hernandez filed a 2026 lawsuit claiming she was wrongfully terminated after repeatedly reporting lax security at a South Central Avenue store and after a shoplifter incident in October 2025. She also sued security contractor Allied Universal, alleging negligent supervision and defamation.

In Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood, 25‑year‑old Abigail Downey sued CVS after a knife‑wielding attacker injured her jaw while she tried to help a security guard in late 2025. She says the chain fired her within 24 hours of filing a workers‑comp claim, accusing her of “escalating workplace violence.” Both suits accuse CVS of maintaining inadequate security and retaliating against employees who attempt to intervene.

The lawsuits highlight broader concerns about store safety and employer responses to workplace violence.