SHERMAN – A former Starbucks barista recently sued the coffee chain for wrongful termination, claiming the act was a result of her refusal to appease her trainer’s request for sexually explicit pictures of herself.
Grayson County resident Taylor Woods initiated legal action in the Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas on June 14. Recent court papers show that Starbucks employed her at a store located at 2918 N. U.S. Hwy. 75 in Sherman from October to December 2016.
Woods explains that she and Jordan Brock exchanged cellphone numbers after the start of her employment. According to the plaintiff, the pair initially discussed work topics, but Brock then spoke to her in an inappropriate manner.
“Mr. Brock began asking the plaintiff for nude photographs of herself, talked about inappropriate sexual topics, and asked her to ‘come over,’” the suit says. “The plaintiff did not reply to the inappropriate sexual questions Mr. Brock asked her. However, he continued sending messages about other topics until she eventually responded.”
Brock, who is not a defendant in the case, allegedly sent Woods a nude picture of himself.
The suit says that the complainant tried to avoid Brock, but he continued to contact her with threats of termination if she did not send him pictures.
Woods further asserts Brock contributed to a hostile work environment and was not properly disciplined. Meanwhile, Starbucks reduced Woods’s working hours and scheduled her to work hours on short notice, the original petition says.
The defendant purportedly discharged Woods in early December 2016.
A jury trial is requested.
Attorney Ronald Huff of Sherman is representing the complainant.
Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas Case No. 4:17-CV-0417