Judge Cindi Port awards $1.85 million to Beehive Espresso baristas after ruling in favor of workers in wage-theft case.
A King County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of 70 baristas in a wage-theft case against the owner of Beehive Espresso, Alan Tagle. Judge Cindi Port awarded the workers more than $1.85 million in unpaid wages and damages.
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The workers were expected to turn in their tips and wages to meet sales goals, or risk losing hours or being fired. The lawsuit stated that Tagle warned another employer against allowing baristas to take shifts at other stands because it prevented him from having control over them. Former employee Eilish Hoffman said that because baristas often work alone, it was difficult to identify patterns of misconduct. Workers used social media to communicate and overcome this isolation to join together for the lawsuit. The Working Washington Rights Center helped bring the lawsuit together and stated it hopes the victory inspires other workers to fight for what they deserve.