Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a new lawsuit against Starbucks, alleging the company violated state civil rights law through race-based hiring and compensation policies.
The lawsuit alleges Starbucks favored “certain favored races” in employment decisions while discriminating against “non-favored” races, specifically white, Asian, and multiracial individuals.
The big picture: Uthmeier’s office asserts that Starbucks has excluded or disfavored nonminorities in its employment practices for the past five years and continues to do so.
- The move follows the dismissal of a previous case against Starbucks at the state Division of Administrative Hearings, with the Attorney General now pursuing the issue in state or federal court.
The other side: Starbucks disputed the earlier allegations, stating that the state failed to identify any specific individuals in Florida who suffered harm or should receive compensation as a result of alleged discrimination.
- Starbucks argues the state’s claims are speculative and not based on actual employment actions or evidence of harm to specific persons.
