A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a prominent bakery chain, alleging pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination. The complaint was filed by Alyssa Zamora in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, on January 10, 2025, targeting Manhattan Bagel and Bakery, Inc., doing business as Einstein Bros. Bagels, along with an individual named Kenny Kim.
The case revolves around allegations that Zamora faced discrimination after informing her employer about her pregnancy. According to the complaint, Zamora began working for Einstein Bros. Bagels on July 17, 2024, as a server/cashier. On July 29, 2024, she informed her manager Kenny Kim about her pregnancy. Just three days later, on August 1, 2024, she was terminated from her position. Zamora claims that Kim explicitly stated that due to her pregnancy, she could no longer work for the company. This abrupt termination forms the crux of Zamora's accusations against the defendants.
Zamora's lawsuit accuses Einstein Bros. Bagels and its management of several violations under California law. She alleges that the company engaged in pregnancy discrimination in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), failed to prevent such discrimination from occurring, retaliated against her for being pregnant by terminating her employment unlawfully, and wrongfully terminated her in violation of public policy. Additionally, Zamora claims that during her employment tenure with Einstein Bros., she was regularly denied rest breaks and issued inaccurate wage statements.
The plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages exceeding $35,000 for lost earnings and emotional distress caused by the alleged unlawful acts of the defendants. She also demands punitive damages to punish and deter future misconduct by the defendants. Furthermore, Zamora seeks attorney fees as allowed under FEHA for prosecuting this action.
Representing Alyssa Zamora are attorneys W. Zev Abramson and Christina Begakis from Abramson Labor Group based in Burbank, California. The case has been assigned Case No.: 2025 CLWIOE0S POR F at the Superior Court of California in Ventura County.