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Cynthia
Coulter Mulvihill, Esq. SBN 171909 Sheral
A. Hyde, Esq. SBN 131452 MULVIHILL
COLE HYDE APC
216 W.
Foothill Boulevard (91016)
PO Box
1007, Monrovia CA 91017-1007
(626) 358-7471 Fax: (626) 358-2894 E-Mail:
TraderPublishingLitigation@cmsynergy.com Attorneys for Plaintiffs TIFFANY KENDRICK, SERGIO SOLRZANO,
ILIANA CANTAVELLA and BEATRIZ GAMBOA-MARTY
SUPERIOR
COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF
SAN BERNARDINO
Comes now
Plaintiffs TIFFANY A. KENDRICK, SERGIO SOLRZANO, ILIANA CANTAVELLA and BEATRIZ
GAMBOA-MARTY and alleges against Defendants TRADER PUBLISHING and LISA TEDESCO
as follows:
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK
1.
At all times mentioned herein, TIFFANY A. KENDRICK is and
was a resident of the County of San Bernardino.
2.
All of the acts and omissions alleged herein took place in
the County of San Bernardino, California.
3.
In 2002, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY hired TIFFANY A.
KENDRICK. TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY
terminated TIFFANY A. KENDRICK'S employment in February 2003.
4.
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK timely filed a Complaint with the
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) for the actions
described herein. The DFEH issued a
“Right to Sue” letter to TIFFANY A. KENDRICK.
This action is brought within the Statute of Repose for an action based
on violation of California’s Fair Employment and Housing laws.
5.
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK is part Black and part Hispanic. TIFFANY A. KENDRICK is bilingual, and speaks
English and Spanish.
6.
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK was hired by TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY
in 2002 as a Customer Service Team Leader.
7.
LISA TEDESCO assumed the position of Private Party Sales
Manager at Trader Publishing Company in approximately late October 2002. Thereafter, LISA TEDESCO served as TIFFANY
A. KENDRICK’S supervisor.
8.
Prior to working for LISA TEDESCO, TIFFANY A. KENDRICK had
an exemplary employment record.
9.
LISA TEDESCO told employees of TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY
that she did not like working with individuals speaking Spanish.
10.
In December 2002, TIFFANY A. KENDRICK attended a meeting
with two co-workers, her supervisor, LISA TEDESCO. During this meeting LISA TEDESCO used the term “African Booty
Snatchers.” TIFFANY A. KENDRICK asked
what LISA TEDESCO meant by the term.
LISA TEDESCO responded by telling TIFFANY A. KENDRICK “this is what we
call black people.”
11.
During the same meeting, LISA TEDESCO and another employee
made additional racial slurs and jokes, including statements like “Why do all
Black people have to talk so loud?” and “Can I touch your hair? Why isn’t it
nappy?”
12.
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK immediately filed a complaint with
TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY’S Human Resources Department regarding the incident
with LISA TEDESCO. However, when
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK requested and received a copy of her personnel file in
connection with her Unemployment Insurance Benefits action, there was no record
whatsoever of TIFFANY A. KENDRICK’S complaint to TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY.
13.
Shortly after complaining of LISA TEDESCO’S “African Booty
Snatcher” remark, when TIFFANY A. KENDRICK came into work one morning, there
was a big hand written note posted on the bulletin board. The note was posted on a board that was visible
for everyone to read. The note stated
“Tiffany Do This Immediately” and it was followed with a list of janitorial
jobs for TIFFANY A. KENDRICK to perform, which were not part of her normal job
duties.
14.
Within weeks of complaining of LISA TEDESCO’S “African Booty
Snatcher” remark, TIFFANY A. KENDRICK was also accused of failing to clock in
and out for lunch. Thereafter, she was
accused of falsifying her timecard. At
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK’S California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board hearing,
she introduced evidence, under oath, she had in fact clocked in and out
appropriately.
15.
On Saturday mornings, TIFFANY A. KENDRICK was scheduled to
arrive at 7:30 a.m. Her supervisor
began to harass her by waiting at the gate in a car. When TIFFANY A. KENDRICK would arrive punctually, her supervisor
would say “I was just making sure you made it on time.”
16.
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK was warned about LISA TEDESCO’S
perception that TIFFANY A. KENDRICK was behaving inappropriately with a
co-worker, SERGIO SOLRZANO. LISA
TEDESCO told TIFFANY KENDRICK that she was not permitted to have any contact
with SERGIO SOLRZANO outside of work.
17.
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK was terminated in February 2003. TIFFANY A. KENDRICK still held the same
position as Customer Service Team Leader when she was terminated.
18.
LISA TEDESCO told TIFFANY A. KENDRICK her employment was
terminated due to “personal reasons.”
19.
Thereafter, TIFFANY A. KENDRICK applied for California
Unemployment Insurance Benefits.
20.
TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY told California’s Employment
Development Department (EDD) that TIFFANY A. KENDRICK had been terminated for
cause. Therefore, EDD denied TIFFANY A.
KENDRICK unemployment benefits.
21.
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK appealed denial of benefits. On appeal, TIFFANY A. KENDRICK was granted
unemployment insurance benefits. TRADER
PUBLISHING COMPANY appealed that decision.
The grant of benefits was affirmed.
SERGIO
SOLRZANO
22.
The Defendant, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY, employed Plaintiff
SERGIO SOLRZANO from June 2000 to February 2003.
23.
The Defendant, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY, employed Plaintiff
as an “exempt employee.”
24.
Plaintiff SERGIO SOLRZANO is Hispanic, has dark skin and
dark hair, and speaks fluent Spanish.
25.
Before Plaintiff worked for LISA TEDESCO, his reviews were
uniformly good. Plaintiff received frequent raises.
26.
LISA TEDESCO assumed the position of Private Party Sales
Manager at Trader Publishing Company in approximately late October 2002.
27.
LISA TEDESCO told employees of TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY
that she did not like working with individuals speaking Spanish.
28.
Plaintiff also applied for the position of Private Party
Sales Manager but the position was given to LISA TEDESCO. After TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY promoted
LISA TEDESCO she demanded that Plaintiff assume the duties she had handled
before being promoted. Plaintiff SERGIO
SOLRZANO assumed those duties, in addition to his own duties.
29.
TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY offered Plaintiff no additional
compensation for the increased workload Plaintiff assumed by taking over LISA
TEDESCO’S prior duties.
30.
In 2002, LISA TEDESCO fired ILIANA CANTAVELLA, another
Hispanic employee. LISA TEDESCO then
demanded that Plaintiff assume ILIANA CANTAVELLA’S duties. Plaintiff SERGIO SOLRZANO did so.
31.
After assuming the two additional jobs LISA TEDESCO assigned
to him, Plaintiff worked at three different TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY
locations: Ontario, California; Arcadia, California; and Torrance,
California. Plaintiff SERGIO
SOLORZANO’S duties included inspection of Express Photo Centers at various
Southern California locations.
32.
Even though SERGIO SOLORZANO was an exempt employee assigned
to three different locations, LISA TEDESCO demanded that SERGIO SOLORZANO
report to the Ontario location on a daily basis.
33.
In January 2002, Plaintiff was given a warning arising from
LISA TEDESCO’S perception that SERGIO SOLORZANO had an inappropriate
relationship with a co-worker. He was
falsely accused of having a sexual relationship with TIFFANY A. KENDRICK. SERGIO SOLORZANO denied, and continues to deny,
LISA TEDESCO’S accusations. LISA
TEDESCO informed him that it was a serious matter and could lead to
disciplinary action, including termination.
LISA TEDESCO told SERGIO SOLORZANO that he was not permitted to contact
TIFFANY A. KENDRICK outside of work.
34.
In February 2003, the Plaintiff’s wife, Linda Solorzano,
notified him that a cherished family pet had escaped.
35.
Linda Solorzano is a childcare provider. Because of State of California laws about
the ratio of child care providers to children, Linda Solorzano could not leave
work. Linda Solorzano informed
Plaintiff SERGIO SOLRZANO when a construction crew located the missing dog in
Downey, California. Linda Solorzano
asked SERGIO SOLORZANO to get the dog at mid-afternoon.
36.
Plaintiff made repeated attempts to locate LISA TEDESCO to
tell her about the problem with the dog before leaving the Ontario, California,
TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY office.
Plaintiff meticulously checked LISA TEDESCO’S office several times to
see if she was present; she was not.
Plaintiff left a voice mail message on LISA TEDESCO’S voice line
explaining the problem. Plaintiff
called LISA TEDESCO’S cell phone to tell her about the problem, but she did not
answer her cell phone. Finally,
Plaintiff SERGIO SOLRZANO left a message with Kay Pulliam, LISA TEDESCO’S
/ / /
assistant,
that he had a family problem that needed immediate attention. He told the assistant he needed to leave the
office immediately.
37.
LISA TEDESCO was not in the office during the time Plaintiff
was attempting to locate her. LISA
TEDESCO later indicated that she was in another area of the building. That area of the building was not visible
from Plaintiff’s work area.
38.
Plaintiff was available by cell phone at all times after he
left the TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY office on February 3, 2003.
39.
At 2:00 p.m. Plaintiff left the Ontario, California TRADER
PUBLISHING COMPANY to pick up the dog.
At 3:30 p.m. LISA TEDESCO telephoned Plaintiff on his cell phone asking
if he was returning to the Ontario office.
Plaintiff asked LISA TEDESCO if there was any particular task he needed
to complete. LISA TEDESCO said there
was not anything that needed to be completed.
40.
Thereafter, on February 4, 2003 LISA TEDESCO told Plaintiff
that his employment at TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY was terminated. Plaintiff was not given his final check upon
termination for several days, in violation of California’s Labor Code.
41.
SERGIO SOLORZANO’S termination was pre-textual, and arose
from the mixed motives of TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY.
ILIANA CANTAVELLA
42.
On Plaintiff ILIANA CANTAVELLA is Hispanic. She is a legal immigrant from South America. She speaks Spanish fluently.
/ / /
43.
Plaintiff timely filed a Complaint with the California
Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) for the actions described
herein. The DFEH issued a “Right to
Sue” letter to Plaintiff. Therefore,
this action is timely filed.
44.
Plaintiff moved from Northern California, when she agreed to
accept employment with TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY.
45.
The Defendant, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY from April 2002
employed plaintiff until December 2002.
Plaintiff was classified as an exempt employee.
46.
Plaintiff ILIANA CANTAVELLA worked as the Van Nuys Field
Manager for TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY.
Although she was classified as an exempt employee, TRADER PUBLISHING
COMPANY paid her an hourly rate of $17.00/hour, and required her to track her
time.
47.
ILIANA CANTAVELLA became pregnant in or around July
2002. In or around September 2002,
ILIANA CANTAVELLA told her employer that she was expecting her first child.
48.
A month later, LISA TEDESCO assumed the position of Private
Party Sales Manager at Trader Publishing Company in approximately late October
2002. At that time, she became ILIANA
CANTAVELLA’S manager.
49.
After LISA TEDESCO became ILIANA CANTAVELLA’S supervisor,
TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY refused to make any accommodations whatsoever for her
pregnancy, even those recommended by ILIANA CANTAVELLA’S doctor. For example, LISA TEDESCO required that
ILIANA CANTAVELLA report to the Ontario office of TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY and
then drive more than 50 miles to the Van Nuys office of TRADER PUBLISHING
COMPANY.
50.
LISA TEDESCO also told employees of TRADER PUBLISHING
COMPANY that she did not like working with individuals speaking Spanish.
51.
Before Plaintiff worked for LISA TEDESCO, her reviews were
uniformly good.
52.
LISA TEDESCO eventually discharged ILIANA CANTAVELLA
allegedly because she left work early.
53.
At the time
Plaintiff was terminated, she was in her third trimester of pregnancy. Despite COBRA laws, TRADER PUBLISHING
COMPANY attempted to deny her the right to receive medical benefits.
54.
Thereafter, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY continued its pattern
and course of discrimination and harassment by attempting to deny ILIANA
CANTAVELLA unemployment insurance benefits.
55.
ILIANA CANTAVELLA was awarded unemployment insurance
benefits. TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY
appealed that award of benefits, and it was affirmed. The benefits award was affirmed again on TRADER PUBLISHING
COMPANY’S second appeal of the award of unemployment insurance benefits.
BEATRIZ
GAMBOA-MARTY
56.
Plaintiff BEATRIZ GAMBOA-MARTY is Hispanic. She speaks Spanish fluently.
57.
The Defendant, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY from July 2002 to
April 2003 employed plaintiff.
/ / /
58.
Plaintiff timely filed a Complaint with the California
Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) for the actions described
herein. The DFEH issued a “Right to
Sue” letter to Plaintiff. Therefore,
this action is timely filed.
59.
LISA TEDESCO assumed the position of Private Party Sales
Manager at Trader Publishing Company in approximately late October 2002. LISA TEDESCO told employees of TRADER
PUBLISHING COMPANY that she did not like working with individuals speaking
Spanish.
60.
Plaintiff’s supervisor was LISA TEDESCO.
61.
Plaintiff BEATRIZ GAMBOA-MARTY worked as a Courier for the
Defendant TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY.
62.
Plaintiff was forced to quit because she was only being paid
for three hours of working a day, despite the fact that she was required to be
available, on call, for eight hours a day.
This was a violation of California’s Labor Laws.
FIRST
CAUSE OF ACTION
VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA’S FAIR
EMPLOYMENT & HOUSING ACT- RACE
(PLAINTIFFS TIFFANY KENDRICK AND
SERGIO SOLORZANO AGAINST DEFENDANTS TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY, LISA TEDESCO,
63.
Plaintiffs hereby incorporate paragraphs 1 through 62 by
reference.
64.
TIFFANY KENDRICK is Black and Hispanic.
65.
SERGIO SOLORZANO appears to be Black, and is Hispanic.
66.
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits
discrimination in all aspects of employment including hiring, termination and
terms and conditions.
67.
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits
harassment of employees or applicants and requires employers to take all
reasonable steps to prevent harassment from occurring. Specifically, Government Code section 12940,
subdivision (i), requires an entity to take "all reasonable steps to
prevent harassment from occurring."
68.
As described above, LISA TEDESCO falsely accused TIFFANY
KENDRICK and SERGIO SOLORZANO of a sexual relationship.
69.
As described above, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY and LISA
TEDESCO referred to Black people as “African Booty Snatchers.”
70.
As described above, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY and LISA
TEDESCO discussed the “nappy” hair of Black people.
71.
As described above, TIFFANY KENDRICK filed a complaint with
the TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY personnel office regarding these offensive
remarks.
72.
Because TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY terminated TIFFANY
KENDRICK and attempted to deny her unemployment benefits, TIFFANY KENDRICK was
able to obtain and review her entire personnel file as part of those
Administrative Law proceedings.
73.
That review showed that TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY had not
even recorded TIFFANY KENDRICK’S complaint about the offensive remarks, much
less conducted any investigation whatsoever.
74.
Shortly after TIFFANY KENDRICK complained about
these remarks, both she and SERGIO SOLORZANO, who appears to be Black, were
terminated.
75.
TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY failed to take any
action, whatsoever, to stop its supervisor from harassing TIFFANY KENDRICK or
SERGIO SOLORZANO.
76.
Thereafter, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY terminated
both employees.
77.
In accordance with California’s Fair Employment
and Housing laws, TIFFANY KENDRICK and SERGIO SOLARZANO are entitled to all
damages arising from TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY’S violation of California’s Fair
Employment and Housing laws, including but not limited to:
(a)
Compensatory damages, including back pay from
the time of TIFFANY KENDRICK’S and SERGIO SOLORZANO’S termination until the
time she found new employment;
(b)
Damages for Emotional Distress;
(c)
Reasonable Attorneys Fees and Costs;
(d)
Expert Witness Fees;
(e)
And Punitive Damages
78.
In addition, and in accordance with California’s Fair
Employment & Housing Act, on behalf of all Black TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY
employees, TIFFANY KENDRICK and SERGIO SOLORZANO request that this Court order that
TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY cease and desist from its discrimination based on
race, or perceived race.
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
SECOND
CAUSE OF ACTION
VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA’S FAIR
EMPLOYMENT & HOUSING ACT- ANCESTRY/NATIONAL ORIGIN
(ALL PLAINTIFFS AGAINST DEFENDANTS
TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY, LISA TEDESCO, AND DOES 1-100, INCLUSIVE)
79.
Plaintiffs hereby incorporate paragraphs 1 through 62 by
reference.
80.
TIFFANY KENDRICK is Black and Hispanic. She speaks Spanish. At the time she was employed by TRADER
PUBLISHING COMPANY, she was a non-exempt Customer Care Team Leader.
81.
SERGIO SOLORZANO appears to be Black, and is Hispanic. He speaks Spanish. At the time he was employed by TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY, he was
in an exempt management position.
82.
ILIANA CANTAVELA is a legal immigrant from South America and
his Hispanic. . She speaks Spanish. At the time she was employed by TRADER
PUBLISHING COMPANY, she was in an exempt management position.
83.
BEATRIZ GAMBOA-MARTY is a legal immigrant from South America
and is Hispanic.
84.
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits
discrimination in all aspects of employment including hiring, termination and
terms and conditions.
85.
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits
harassment of employees or applicants and requires employers to take all
reasonable steps to prevent harassment from occurring. Specifically, Government Code section 12940,
subdivision (i), requires an entity to take "all reasonable steps to
prevent harassment from occurring."
86.
TIFFANY KENDRICK, SERGIO SOLORZANO, ILIANA
CANTAVELLA, and BEATRIZ GAMBOA-MARTY all received uniformly good reviews before
LISA TEDESCO became their supervisor.
87.
As described above, LISA TEDESCO repeatedly stated that she
did not like working with employees who spoke Spanish.
88.
As described above, LISA TEDESCO instituted a
campaign of harassment. Plaintiffs are
informed and believe that TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY did so, to eliminate
Hispanic employees in supervisory positions.
89.
Thereafter, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY terminated
TIFFANY KENDRICK, SERGIO SOLORZANO and ILIANA CANTAVELLA.
90.
BEATRIZ GAMBOA-MARTY was constructively
terminated when TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY required her to be available 8 hours
a day, but only paid her for 3 hours a day.
91.
In accordance with California’s Fair Employment
and Housing laws, Plaintiffs are entitled to all damages arising from TRADER
PUBLISHING COMPANY’S violation of California’s Fair Employment and Housing
laws, including but not limited to:
(a)
Compensatory damages, including back pay from
the time of each Plaintiff’s termination until each Plaintiff found new
employment;
(b)
Damages for Emotional Distress;
(c)
Reasonable Attorneys Fees and Costs;
(d)
Expert Witness Fees;
(e)
And Punitive Damages
92.
In addition, and in accordance with California’s Fair
Employment & Housing Act, on behalf of all Hispanic TRADER PUBLISHING
COMPANY employees, Plaintiffs request that this Court order that TRADER
PUBLISHING COMPANY cease and desist from its discrimination based on race, or
perceived race.
THIRD
CAUSE OF ACTION
VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA’S FAIR
EMPLOYMENT & HOUSING ACT
- PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION
93.
ILIANA CANTAVELLA hereby incorporates paragraphs 1 to 62
herein by reference.
94.
California’s Fair Employment & Housing Act
requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations requested by an
employee, with the advice of her health care provider, related to her
pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
95.
It is illegal for an employer to discriminate
against or harass an employee because of her pregnancy. Furthermore, when an employee has a
disability, the employer must explore all possibilities of reasonable
accommodation prior to rejecting the person for a job or making any
employment-related decision.
96.
As described above, ILIANA CANTAVELLA, around September
2002, notified TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY that she was pregnant.
97.
Thereafter, TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY began harassing ILIANA
CANTAVELLA, demanding she begin making long, uncompensated drives between
facilities on a daily basis. Those duties were not part of her job before
ILIANA CANTAVELLA told TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY she was pregnant.
98.
TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY failed to provide reasonable
accommodations for that pregnancy, or any accommodations at all.
99.
Therefore, ILIANA CANTAVELLA is entitled to all damages
arising from TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY’S pregnancy discrimination, including,
but not limited to:
(a)
Compensatory damages, including back pay from
the time of ILIANA CANTAVELLA’S termination until the time she found new
employment;
(b)
Damages for Emotional Distress;
(c)
Reasonable Attorneys Fees and Costs;
(d)
Expert Witness Fees;
(e)
And Punitive Damages
100.
In
addition, and in accordance with California’s Fair Employment & Housing
Act, on behalf of all TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY employees, ILIANA CANTAVELLA
requests that this Court order that TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY cease and desist
from its pregnancy discrimination.
FOURTH
CAUSE OF ACTION
BREACH OF ORAL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
101.
ILIANA
CANTAVELLA hereby incorporates paragraphs 1 to 62, 80 to 92, and 94 to 100 by
reference.
102.
ILIANA
CANTAVELLA moved herself, and her family, from Northern California to Southern
California in order to take the position of Van Nuys Field Manager for TRADER
PUBLISHING COMPANY.
103.
ILIANA
CANTAVELLA disrupted her family and made the costly move from Northern
California to Southern California, at her own cost, based on TRADER PUBLISHING
COMPANY’S assurances that she would be employed by TRADER PUBLISHING COMPANY on
a long-term basis. ILIANA CANTAVELLA
understood that as part her acceptance of employment with TRADER PUBLISHING
COMPANY, she would not be terminated from employment without good cause. 104.   |