Ana Ruiz has filed a comprehensive lawsuit against Mochi Health Corp., alleging a series of discriminatory practices and violations of employment laws. The complaint, filed on January 27, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, accuses Mochi Health Corp. of discrimination based on disability and gender, retaliation for requesting accommodations, wrongful termination, and various labor code violations.
The plaintiff, Ana Ruiz, represented by Laurel Employment Law attorneys Joshua I. White and Brian Heit, alleges that her former employer Mochi Health Corp., engaged in unlawful practices under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and other California labor laws. Ruiz claims she was employed by Mochi Health from November 17, 2023, to December 13, 2024. During her tenure as a Senior Visual Designer, she requested a modest accommodation for iron infusion treatments due to a medical condition. Instead of accommodating her request or engaging in an interactive process as required by law, the company allegedly posted a job listing for her replacement within hours and terminated her employment shortly thereafter.
Ruiz's complaint outlines multiple causes of action including disability discrimination under FEHA Gov't Code § 12940(a), failure to provide reasonable accommodation (§ 12940(m)), failure to engage in the interactive process (§ 12940(n)), retaliation (§ 12940(h)), wrongful termination in violation of public policy, sex/gender discrimination (§ 12940(a)), Equal Pay Act violations (Labor Code § 1197.5), failure to prevent discrimination and retaliation (§ 12940(k)), misclassification as an independent contractor (Labor Code § 2750.3), failure to pay overtime compensation (Labor Code § 510), wage statement violations (Labor Code § 226), unfair business practices (Business and Professions Code §§ 17200 et seq.), and failure to pay all wages due upon separation (Labor Code §§ 201-203).
Ruiz seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits, emotional distress damages, punitive damages for willful misconduct by the defendants, statutory penalties under various labor codes, liquidated damages under the Equal Pay Act provisions, injunctive relief against continued unlawful practices by Mochi Health Corp., attorneys' fees and costs of suit.
The case is presided over by Judge Sahar Enayati with Case ID CGC-25-621797. Attorneys Joshua I. White and Brian Heit from Laurel Employment Law represent Ana Ruiz.