{"id":5068,"date":"2026-03-25T21:52:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:52:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/long-time-napa-winery-worker-sues-chappellet-for-disability-and-race-discrimination\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T01:34:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T01:34:43","slug":"long-time-napa-winery-worker-sues-chappellet-for-disability-and-race-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/long-time-napa-winery-worker-sues-chappellet-for-disability-and-race-discrimination\/","title":{"rendered":"Napa&#8217;s Chappellet Winery Sued for Employment Discrimination"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5068\" class=\"elementor elementor-5068 elementor-5047\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0f6e9cc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0f6e9cc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a8cf07f\" data-id=\"a8cf07f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ca73ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2ca73ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9177d24 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9177d24\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-91690d6\" data-id=\"91690d6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47982ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"47982ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Liberation Law Group \u2014 Press Page: Chappellet Case (ENGLISH) -->\n<!-- Elementor Custom HTML Widget \u2014 No header\/footer included --> <style> .llg-press-wrap { font-family: 'Georgia', serif; color: #1a1a1a; max-width: 860px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 20px 60px; } .llg-eyebrow { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; margin-bottom: 28px; } .llg-eyebrow-tag { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #fff; background: #8b1c2c; padding: 5px 14px; border-radius: 2px; } .llg-eyebrow-date { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #777; letter-spacing: 0.04em; } .llg-headline { font-size: clamp(26px, 4vw, 38px); font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.2; color: #111; margin: 0 0 16px; letter-spacing: -0.02em; } .llg-deck { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; color: #444; margin: 0 0 32px; padding-bottom: 28px; border-bottom: 2px solid #8b1c2c; } .llg-body p { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.85; color: #2a2a2a; margin: 0 0 20px; } .llg-pullquote { border-left: 4px solid #8b1c2c; padding: 18px 28px; margin: 36px 0; background: #fdf6f7; } .llg-pullquote p { font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6; font-style: italic; color: #2a2a2a; margin: 0 0 10px; } .llg-pullquote cite { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.08em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8b1c2c; } .llg-facts-label { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8b1c2c; margin: 40px 0 16px; } .llg-facts-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(200px, 1fr)); gap: 16px; margin-bottom: 40px; } .llg-fact-card { background: #f7f3f3; border: 1px solid #e6d8d8; border-top: 3px solid #8b1c2c; padding: 16px 18px; } .llg-fact-card .fact-label { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.1em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #999; margin-bottom: 6px; } .llg-fact-card .fact-value { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; color: #111; line-height: 1.4; } .llg-claims { margin: 0 0 40px; padding: 0; list-style: none; display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(240px, 1fr)); gap: 10px; } .llg-claims li { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: #2a2a2a; padding: 10px 14px 10px 36px; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid #e8e8e8; position: relative; line-height: 1.4; transition: border-color 0.2s, background 0.2s; cursor: pointer; } .llg-claims li:hover { border-color: #8b1c2c; background: #fdf6f7; } .llg-claims li:hover a { color: #8b1c2c !important; } .llg-claims li::before { content: ''; position: absolute; left: 14px; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); width: 8px; height: 8px; background: #8b1c2c; border-radius: 50%; } .llg-press-section { margin-top: 50px; padding-top: 32px; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; } .llg-press-section-label { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8b1c2c; margin-bottom: 20px; } .llg-press-links { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 12px; } .llg-press-link { display: flex; align-items: flex-start; gap: 16px; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; padding: 16px 20px; text-decoration: none; transition: border-color 0.2s, box-shadow 0.2s; } .llg-press-link:hover { border-color: #8b1c2c; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(139,28,44,0.08); } .llg-press-link-icon { flex-shrink: 0; width: 36px; height: 36px; background: #f7f3f3; border-radius: 2px; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; } .llg-press-link-icon svg { width: 18px; height: 18px; fill: #8b1c2c; } .llg-press-link-pub { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.1em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #999; margin-bottom: 4px; } .llg-press-link-title { font-family: 'Georgia', serif; font-size: 15px; color: #111; line-height: 1.4; } .llg-press-link:hover .llg-press-link-title { color: #8b1c2c; } .llg-attorney { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 20px; margin-top: 48px; padding: 24px 28px; background: #f7f3f3; border: 1px solid #e6d8d8; } .llg-attorney-initials { flex-shrink: 0; width: 52px; height: 52px; background: #8b1c2c; border-radius: 50%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; color: #fff; letter-spacing: 0.05em; } .llg-attorney-label { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8b1c2c; margin-bottom: 4px; } .llg-attorney-name { font-family: 'Georgia', serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; color: #111; margin-bottom: 2px; } .llg-attorney-role { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: #666; } .llg-status { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; margin: 36px 0; padding: 14px 20px; background: #fff8f0; border: 1px solid #f0d8b0; border-left: 4px solid #c87c20; } .llg-status-dot { width: 10px; height: 10px; background: #c87c20; border-radius: 50%; flex-shrink: 0; animation: pulse-dot 2s ease-in-out infinite; } @keyframes pulse-dot { 0%, 100% { opacity: 1; } 50% { opacity: 0.4; } } .llg-status-text { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; color: #7a4b00; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.06em; } @media (max-width: 580px) { .llg-attorney { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; } .llg-facts-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; } }\n<\/style> <div class=\"llg-press-wrap\"> <div class=\"llg-eyebrow\"> <span class=\"llg-eyebrow-tag\">Active Case<\/span> <span class=\"llg-eyebrow-date\">February 2026 \u00b7 Napa County Superior Court<\/span> <\/div> <h1 class=\"llg-headline\"> Napa Winery Housekeeper of Nearly 30 Years Sues Chappellet for Disability and Racial Discrimination <\/h1> <div style=\"margin: 0 0 28px; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid #e6d8d8;\"> <img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Lake_Hennessy_Napa_Valley_e1481823415948_0d027ef0-9733-4750-9a15-910ca7a371d5.jpg\" class=\"lazyload\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"View of Lake Hennessey in Napa Valley, where Chappellet Winery is located on Pritchard Hill\" style=\"width: 100%; display: block; height: auto; max-height: 420px; object-fit: cover; object-position: center;\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Lake_Hennessy_Napa_Valley_e1481823415948_0d027ef0-9733-4750-9a15-910ca7a371d5.jpg\" alt=\"View of Lake Hennessey in Napa Valley, where Chappellet Winery is located on Pritchard Hill\" style=\"width: 100%; display: block; height: auto; max-height: 420px; object-fit: cover; object-position: center;\"><\/noscript> <p style=\"font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color:#666; margin: 0; padding: 8px 12px; background: #f7f3f3; border-top: 1px solid #e6d8d8; line-height: 1.5;\"> View of Lake Hennessey in Napa Valley \u2014 Chappellet Winery is located in the Pritchard Hill hills overlooking the lake. <\/p> <\/div> <p class=\"llg-deck\"> Liberation Law Group represents Ana Maria Chavez Jimenez, who alleges she was wrongfully terminated by one of Napa Valley's most prestigious wineries \u2014 after suffering a workplace injury, requesting reasonable accommodations, and facing repeated denial of a Spanish interpreter during critical employment meetings. <\/p> <div class=\"llg-body\"> <p> Ana Maria Chavez Jimenez began working as a housekeeper at Chappellet \u2014 a prominent family estate on Pritchard Hill overlooking Lake Hennessey \u2014 in July 1995. For nearly three decades, she received consistently positive performance evaluations while cleaning the winery's facilities, offices, tasting rooms, and private residences. <\/p> <p> In early 2024, Jimenez notified her supervisor that she was experiencing numbness in her hand and other physical limitations. She filed a workers' compensation report in February 2024 detailing injuries to her neck, head, back, left shoulder and arm, left wrist, and left hand. Her supervisor told her to work more slowly, but allegedly took no steps to modify or adjust her duties. <\/p> <p> In August 2024, Jimenez was diagnosed with left shoulder tendinitis and her physician placed her on medical restrictions for three months \u2014 specifically, to avoid rotating her left shoulder and lifting objects. She provided this documentation to Chappellet's human resources department. <\/p> <p> According to the lawsuit, rather than engaging in the good-faith interactive process required by California law, the winery's HR director presented Jimenez with an ultimatum: perform all duties without accommodations, take unpaid leave, or resign. He also allegedly gave her a letter accusing her of \"attempting to manipulate situations to avoid fulfilling her work obligations.\" Two months later, her position was eliminated \u2014 with the winery citing \"budget cuts.\" <\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-pullquote\"> <p>\"This case questions whether decades of loyal service provide any protection to Latino workers when they need their employers most.\"<\/p> <cite>\u2014 Elizabeth Lyons, Lead Attorney, Liberation Law Group<\/cite> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-body\"> <p> The case also raises serious concerns about language access. Jimenez, whose primary language is Spanish, requested an interpreter for her meetings with human resources and was denied. The lawsuit alleges that the HR director had previously made comments suggesting that everyone should speak and learn English, and that he had denied translation requests from multiple Spanish-speaking employees. <\/p> <p> The case has drawn attention to broader patterns in Napa County's wine industry, where a significant portion of the workforce is Latino. It raises important questions about employer obligations under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) \u2014 including the duty to provide reasonable accommodations for work-related injuries and to ensure meaningful communication for employees with limited English proficiency. <\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-status\"> <span class=\"llg-status-dot\"><\/span> <span class=\"llg-status-text\">Jury Trial Scheduled \u2014 February 22, 2027 \u00b7 Napa County Superior Court<\/span> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-facts-label\">Case Summary<\/div> <div class=\"llg-facts-grid\"> <div class=\"llg-fact-card\"> <div class=\"fact-label\">Client<\/div> <div class=\"fact-value\">Ana Maria Chavez Jimenez<\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-fact-card\"> <div class=\"fact-label\">Defendant<\/div> <div class=\"fact-value\">Chappellet Winery \u00b7 Napa Valley, CA<\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-fact-card\"> <div class=\"fact-label\">Years of Service<\/div> <div class=\"fact-value\">29 Years (1995\u20132024)<\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-fact-card\"> <div class=\"fact-label\">Court<\/div> <div class=\"fact-value\">Napa County Superior Court<\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-fact-card\"> <div class=\"fact-label\">Date Filed<\/div> <div class=\"fact-value\">September 8, 2025<\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-fact-card\"> <div class=\"fact-label\">Trial Date<\/div> <div class=\"fact-value\">February 22, 2027 (Jury)<\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-facts-label\">Causes of Action<\/div> <ul class=\"llg-claims\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/disability-discrimination-lawyer-san-francisco-liberation-law-group\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: inherit; text-decoration: none;\">Disability Discrimination (FEHA)<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/disability-discrimination-lawyer-san-francisco-liberation-law-group\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: inherit; text-decoration: none;\">Failure to Provide Reasonable Accommodation<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/disability-discrimination-lawyer-san-francisco-liberation-law-group\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: inherit; text-decoration: none;\">Failure to Engage in the Interactive Process<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/employment-discrimination-lawyer-in-san-francisco-ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: inherit; text-decoration: none;\">Race and National Origin Discrimination<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/wrongful-termination-lawyer-in-san-francisco-california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: inherit; text-decoration: none;\">Wrongful Termination<\/a><\/li> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/workplace-retaliation-attorney-in-san-francisco-california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: inherit; text-decoration: none;\">Workplace Retaliation<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <div class=\"llg-attorney\"> <div class=\"llg-attorney-initials\">EL<\/div> <div> <div class=\"llg-attorney-label\">Lead Attorney<\/div> <div class=\"llg-attorney-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/attorney-elizabeth-l-lyons-specialist-in-labor-equality-and-discrimination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; text-underline-offset: 3px; text-decoration-color: #8b1c2c;\">Elizabeth Lyons<\/a><\/div> <div class=\"llg-attorney-role\"><a href=\"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: #666; text-decoration: underline; text-underline-offset: 2px; text-decoration-color: #ccc;\">Liberation Law Group<\/a> \u00b7 San Francisco, CA<\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"llg-press-section\"> <div class=\"llg-press-section-label\">Press Coverage<\/div> <div class=\"llg-press-links\"> <a class=\"llg-press-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.winebusiness.com\/news\/article\/314621\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <div class=\"llg-press-link-icon\"> <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M19 3H5c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2v14c0 1.1.9 2 2 2h14c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2V5c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2zm-7 3c1.93 0 3.5 1.57 3.5 3.5S13.93 13 12 13s-3.5-1.57-3.5-3.5S10.07 6 12 6zm7 13H5v-.23c0-.62.28-1.2.76-1.58C7.47 15.82 9.64 15 12 15s4.53.82 6.24 2.19c.48.38.76.97.76 1.58V19z\"\/><\/svg> <\/div> <div> <div class=\"llg-press-link-pub\">Wine Business Monthly<\/div> <div class=\"llg-press-link-title\">Discrimination Lawsuit Against Chappellet Scheduled for Jury Trial Next Year<\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <a class=\"llg-press-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/wine\/article\/chappellet-winery-worker-lawsuit-21941201.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <div class=\"llg-press-link-icon\"> <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.48 2 2 6.48 2 12s4.48 10 10 10 10-4.48 10-10S17.52 2 12 2zm-1 15v-4H7l5-8v4h4l-5 8z\"\/><\/svg> <\/div> <div> <div class=\"llg-press-link-pub\">San Francisco Chronicle<\/div> <div class=\"llg-press-link-title\">Renowned Napa Valley Winery Sued for Discrimination and Wrongful Termination<\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <a class=\"llg-press-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/revered-napa-valley-winery-sued-130000336.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <div class=\"llg-press-link-icon\"> <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M20 4H4c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2v12c0 1.1.9 2 2 2h16c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2V6c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2zm0 4.7l-8 5.33L4 8.7V6.99l8 5.33 8-5.33v1.71z\"\/><\/svg> <\/div> <div> <div class=\"llg-press-link-pub\">Yahoo News \/ SF Chronicle<\/div> <div class=\"llg-press-link-title\">Renowned Napa Valley Winery Sued for Discrimination and Wrongful Termination<\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<!-- End Liberation Law Group Press: Chappellet (EN) -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>.llg-press-wrap { font-family: &#8216;Georgia&#8217;, serif; color: #1a1a1a; max-width: 860px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 20px 60px; } .llg-eyebrow { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; margin-bottom: 28px; } .llg-eyebrow-tag { font-family: &#8216;Arial&#8217;, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #fff; background: #8b1c2c; padding: 5px 14px; border-radius: 2px; } .llg-eyebrow-date { font-family: &#8216;Arial&#8217;, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5068","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5068"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5068\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/liberationlawgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}