In a gripping legal battle that highlights significant workplace issues, a former employee has filed a comprehensive lawsuit against his previous employers, alleging multiple counts of discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination. Jesus Antonio Galaviz Pena filed the complaint on March 13, 2025, in the Superior Court of California for Ventura County against Mrs. Gooch’s Natural Food Markets, Inc., Whole Foods Market California, Inc., and an individual named Walter Estrada.
The lawsuit details a harrowing account of alleged workplace misconduct that began when Pena was employed as a cake decorator and baker in March 2022. Pena claims he was subjected to severe sexual harassment by his supervisor, Walter Estrada. According to the complaint, Estrada made repeated unwanted sexual advances towards Pena, including inappropriate touching and suggestive comments about his body. Despite Pena's protests and reports to management figures such as Assistant Bakery Manager Sarah Castro and Store Manager Tony (last name unknown), no remedial action was taken. Instead, Pena alleges that he faced retaliation for his complaints and requests for reasonable accommodations due to his disability—depression—culminating in his wrongful termination on March 18, 2023.
Pena accuses the defendants of violating numerous laws under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and other California statutes. The charges include discrimination based on sex/gender, perceived sexual orientation, actual or perceived disability; retaliation; harassment creating a hostile work environment; failure to provide reasonable accommodation; negligent hiring; assault; battery; sexual battery; violation of civil rights acts; intentional infliction of emotional distress; and wrongful termination in violation of public policy.
The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court. He demands compensation for lost wages and benefits exceeding $35,000, damages for emotional distress and humiliation caused by the defendants' actions, punitive damages to punish and deter future misconduct by the defendants or similar entities, civil penalties under Labor Code violations amounting up to $10,000 per violation, and attorneys’ fees.
Representing Jesus Antonio Galaviz Pena are attorneys Bijan Mohseni (Cal. Bar No. 338276), Gayane Ghandilyan (Cal. Bar No. 327818), and Aspen Paxon (Cal. Bar No. 346946) from Bibiyan Law Group P.C., located in Los Angeles. The case is being presided over by Judge Sirona L. Cormack with Deputy Clerk Joan Foster assisting in proceedings under Case No.: 20025CUVYT0403249.