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Plaintiff Alleges Workplace Harassment Against Former Employer Olam Americas

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Saturday, December 21, 2024

Plaintiff Alleges Workplace Harassment Against Former Employer Olam Americas

State Court
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Ventura County Superior Court | Official Website

A troubling case of workplace harassment has surfaced, shedding light on the severe allegations against a company and its managerial staff. Aurestela Espinoza filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, on December 9, 2024, accusing Olam Americas, LLC, Olde Thompson, LLC, and Miguel Garcia of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.

The lawsuit reveals a harrowing account of Espinoza's experiences while employed at the defendants' facilities in Oxnard, California. According to the complaint, Espinoza began working as a warehouse employee in January 2017 and was promoted to Warehouse Lead in September 2021. Following her promotion, her supervisor Miguel Garcia allegedly initiated unwanted advances that escalated into quid pro quo sexual harassment. Espinoza recounts instances where Garcia made inappropriate comments about her body and even attempted to coerce her into sexual acts by suggesting that such submission was necessary for receiving raises or continued employment benefits.

Espinoza's legal filing claims that despite multiple reports to Human Resources about Garcia's behavior—both verbal misconduct and his family members’ alleged drug use at work—no substantial action was taken by the company to address these issues. This lack of response allegedly perpetuated an environment where harassment could thrive unchecked. In June 2023, after exhausting internal channels without resolution, Espinoza sought intervention from higher management but only received temporary relief through departmental transfer. Her ordeal continued when she was asked to return under Garcia’s supervision later that year.

The complaint further alleges that this pattern of behavior by Garcia had been known within the company for some time yet remained unaddressed by those in authority. Espinoza claims that other female employees were similarly mistreated but feared retaliation or dismissal if they spoke out.

Espinoza is seeking compensatory damages exceeding $250,000 for lost wages and emotional distress caused by the hostile work environment fostered by the defendants. Additionally, she requests punitive damages due to what she describes as malicious conduct by her employers and their failure to prevent discrimination as mandated under California law.

The case is being handled by Vanessa Jarvis from Barkhordarian Law Firm PLC representing Aurestela Espinoza. The presiding judge over this matter is not named in the document provided. The case ID is 2024 CIINEODS4101.

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