SAN FRANCISCO – A government agency claims Forever 21 Retail Inc. enforced an unlawful English-only policy for its employees.
Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a complaint on March 29 in the San Francisco County Superior Court against Forever 21 Retail Inc. and Does 1 to 10 alleging employment discrimination. The suit also lists Francisco Leon, Ignacio Martinez and Freddy Tovar, employees of the defendant, as real parties in interest.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that the defendant enforced an English-only policy at its flagship store in San Francisco, which it alleges is unlawful. The suit states this policy was enforced primarily against Spanish-speaking employees and that the defendant retaliated against some employees who complained about it by reducing their work hours.
The plaintiff seeks for the defendant to pay Francisco Leon compensatory damages in an amount no less than $2,709.05; pay Ignacio Martinez compensatory damages no less than $3,1621.40; pay Freddy Tovar compensatory damages no less than $1,539.44; injunctive relief; all legal fees and any other relief as the court deems. It is represented by Jon M. Ichinaga, Paula D. Pearlman and Denise Y. Levey of Department of Fair Employment and Housing in Los Angeles.
San Francisco County Superior Court Case number CGC17557825