Martha Martínez, who was a temporary worker at Rancho Gordo from late 2019 to 2020, accused the company of discriminating against her because of her sex, national origin, and pregnancy, which led to retaliation and wrongful termination, the Chronicle reported in early March.
The jury deliberated for more than four days before finding the company guilty of some charges, but not all.
A Napa jury deliberating a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by a temporary worker against the popular Napa-based bean company Rancho Gordo sided with the plaintiff on a number of charges and awarded her $252,000 in damages on Thursday, March 23, as first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Martha Martínez, who was a temporary worker at Rancho Gordo from late 2019 to 2020, accused the company of discriminating against her because of her sex, national origin, and pregnancy, which led to retaliation and wrongful termination, the Chronicle reported in early March. Jurors in the case deliberated for four days, working to an impasse, but only sided with Martínez on some of the allegations in the lawsuit.
The jury concluded that Martínez’s pregnancy at the time of her employment at Rancho Gordo was a factor in her termination in 2020, as well as that the termination caused her harm and that the company retaliated against her by not hiring her for future work for the complaints about being fired due to her pregnancy. However, the jury did not appear to find the company guilty on other charges. Martínez alleged that she faced discrimination in relation to her country of origin, El Salvador, by other employees. The jurors did not side with Martínez on that accusation.
Martínez received a substantial amount of money in damages from the jury, who compensated her with $15,566.40 for past lost earnings; $86,400 for future medical expenses; $75,000 for past emotional distress; and $75,000 for future emotional distress. In response to the verdict in favor of Martínez, her legal team at Liberation Law Group told the Chronicle that Martínez’s “sense of justice was correct” in filing a lawsuit against Rancho Gordo for the treatment she received at the company.
Rancho Gordo denied all claims in court. Lawyers for the company and Rancho Gordo owner Steve Sando claimed that the company was not aware of Martínez’s pregnancy at the time of her termination.
In a statement to Rancho Gordo employees via Slack on Thursday and provided to Eater SF by company officials, Sando informed staff of the jury’s decision and thanked everyone for their support, while also questioning any alleged discriminatory irregularities in the case.
Rancho Gordo’s attorney, Shane Anderies of the San Francisco firm Anderies & Gomes LLP, said that the people involved in her termination did not know she was pregnant. The company, which hired Martínez through a temporary employment agency, fired her when sales slowed after a typical busy holiday season, Anderies said.
The jury agreed that Rancho Gordo’s reduction of its temporary workforce after the holidays was also a reason for her termination. But the jury did not find that the company would have ended her work assignment anyway at that time, due to the reduction of its temporary workforce, if it had not been substantially motivated by discrimination.
Arlo Uriarte of the San Francisco firm Liberation Law Group, known among Hispanics as liberationlawgroup.com one of Martínez’s attorneys, said the verdict confirmed that “her sense of justice was correct” in taking legal action.
Rancho Gordo owner Steve Sando declined to comment.
The trial was held over several days; witnesses included current and former Rancho Gordo employees and psychology experts. The jury, which originally consisted of 12 people, was deadlocked and deliberated for so long that Martínez’s attorneys thought the case would end in a mistrial. One juror was excused on Wednesday, prompting a stipulation to accept a verdict with at least eight votes instead of nine. Judge Cynthia Smith, who presided over the case, thanked the jurors on Thursday and said the deliberations “were much more difficult than perhaps they expected.”
Rancho Gordo’s attorneys said in court on Thursday that they plan to request a directed verdict on all claims, which asks a judge to rule that there was not enough evidence for a reasonable jury to reach a verdict. A hearing was set for May 16. If the judge rules in favor of Martínez on the directed verdict, Rancho Gordo can appeal that ruling.
This is one of the examples of employment discrimination cases that our Employment Law defense attorneys in San Francisco, led by attorney Arlo Uriarte, can help you with. If you have a question about discrimination at work, whether it is racial discrimination, pregnancy, or wrongful termination as in this case, you should contact our Employment rights defense attorneys for a free consultation and tell us about your situation.
Contact a Employment rights attorney to sue for discrimination in San Francisco
La mejor manera de proteger tu empleo y protegerte ante represalias employment es hablando con un abogado. Nuestros abogados hablan Spanish y atendemos tu llamada 24/7. Contact Us por phone llamando al (888)442-2642 o contact us through de nuestro contact form. Estamos dispuesto a ayudarte con todo tipo de casos de discrimination employment, despidos injustos y horas extras y salarios no pagados en el area de la bay de San Francisco, los condados de Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Alameda, Solano and Sonoma, California.
What This Case Means for Workers in Northern California
The $252,000 verdict in the case against Rancho Gordo was not just a victory for the worker — it was a clear message to Northern California employers: pregnancy discrimination has real and significant consequences. California juries take these cases seriously.
Rancho Gordo is a well-known company in the Napa Valley and Bay Area — a sophisticated employer with company lawyers. And yet, a jury of ordinary citizens found that it had discriminated against a pregnant worker and awarded more than a quarter of a million dollars in compensation. This case perfectly illustrates what can happen when a worker decides to take action.
If you work in Napa County, Sonoma County, or anywhere in Northern California and believe you were discriminated against because of pregnancy, this case is relevant to you. Learn about your rights regarding pregnancy discrimination in California and wrongful termination due to pregnancy in California.
Were you discriminated against for being pregnant? The Rancho Gordo case shows you can win.
Attorney Arlo Uriarte can evaluate your case today — free, in English or Spanish. 1-888-442-2642 — free consultation here — 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions — Pregnancy Discrimination and Winning Cases
What did the Rancho Gordo case demonstrate about pregnancy discrimination?
The case demonstrated several important things: that California juries take pregnancy discrimination very seriously, that the value of these cases can be significant — $252,000 in this case, that Northern California employers — even well-established ones — can be held liable, and that quality legal representation makes a decisive difference in the outcome. The case also shows that pregnancy discrimination does not require the employer to be a small or unsophisticated business — it can happen at any type of company. Call 1-888-442-2642.
How can Liberation Law Group help me if I suffered pregnancy discrimination?
Liberation Law Group can: evaluate your case for free to determine if you have legal grounds, develop the optimal strategy — whether negotiation, mediation, or jury trial, gather the evidence needed to build a solid case, and represent you at every step of the process — from initial complaint through trial if necessary. The Rancho Gordo case was successfully represented because we have the experience to present the facts convincingly to a jury. That same experience is available to you. Call 1-888-442-2642.
How much can a pregnancy discrimination case be worth in California?
The Rancho Gordo case resulted in $252,000 for one worker. The exact value of your case will depend on factors like your salary, length of employment, the nature of the discrimination, and the emotional damages suffered. In California, pregnancy discrimination cases can include: lost wages, emotional damages (no cap under FEHA), punitive damages, and attorney’s fees paid by the employer. In similar cases we have seen recoveries ranging from tens of thousands to more than $200,000. A free evaluation can give you a concrete estimate. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Do I have to go to trial to win a pregnancy discrimination case?
Not necessarily. Most cases — including many pregnancy discrimination cases — are resolved in negotiation or mediation without going to trial. However, the Rancho Gordo case shows that when it is necessary to go to trial, Liberation Law Group is fully prepared to litigate and win. Willingness to litigate through trial, when necessary, frequently incentivizes employers to make more reasonable settlement offers during negotiations. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Can I sue if I still work for the employer?
Yes. Many employment discrimination lawsuits are filed while the employee is still working — especially when discrimination involves denial of promotions or working conditions, rather than termination. However, it is important to do this with an attorney’s guidance to minimize the risk of retaliation and to preserve all possible evidence. If you decide to keep working while the case moves forward, your attorney can advise you on how to handle the situation in a way that protects both your job and your case. Call 1-888-442-2642.
How long do I have to sue for pregnancy discrimination?
In California you have 3 years from the most recent discriminatory act to file a lawsuit under FEHA. Act quickly — evidence is fresher, witnesses remember better, and you preserve all your legal options. If the act was less than 3 years ago, you can still take action. Call 1-888-442-2642 today.
Does Liberation Law Group handle pregnancy discrimination cases throughout Northern California?
Yes. We handle cases in San Francisco, Napa County, Sonoma County, Oakland, San Jose, and the entire region. The consultation is completely free. Call 1-888-442-2642.
What other types of discrimination does Liberation Law Group handle?
In addition to pregnancy discrimination, we handle cases of racial, gender, age, disability, religious, national origin, and sexual orientation discrimination. We also handle sexual harassment, wrongful termination, wage theft, workplace retaliation, and misclassification cases. Learn about all the types of employment discrimination we handle. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Liberation Law Group — Attorneys for Workers 24/7
2760 Mission Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94110
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