Workplace harassment and discrimination lawsuits proceed in New York and California

Two separate legal actions involving allegations of workplace misconduct and discrimination have emerged in the United States.

A former Costco employee has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination. The plaintiff, who worked at the East Harlem warehouse, claims a supervisor, Andrea Mills, subjected her to inappropriate comments regarding her body and invaded her personal space. The lawsuit alleges that after the employee reported the behavior to management, the internal environment became adversarial rather than corrective.

In San Francisco, a trial has commenced regarding a 2015 lawsuit involving the District Attorney’s Office. Twanda Bailey, a former employee of 14 years, is suing following a racial slur incident involving a co-worker. Bailey testified that after reporting the slur, she faced harassment from the HR Director, who allegedly denied the existence of her formal complaint and subjected her to a hostile work environment. The case was revived by the California Supreme Court in 2024.