In a striking legal battle, a former high-ranking employee of one of the nation's largest financial institutions has taken his grievances to court, alleging age discrimination and wrongful termination. Kevin Barri filed a complaint against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on March 28, 2025. The lawsuit accuses Wells Fargo of systematically removing older managers and retaliating against Barri for raising concerns about workplace conditions.
The plaintiff, Kevin Barri, had dedicated over two decades to Wells Fargo, climbing the ranks to become a Regional Executive overseeing a vast network of branches in Northern California. However, his career came to an abrupt end in January 2025 when he was terminated at the age of 56. According to the complaint, Barri's dismissal was part of a broader strategy by Wells Fargo to cultivate a younger workforce profile. "The Bank’s termination of Barri was part of a larger deliberate effort and pattern by Wells Fargo to remove older managers," the complaint states. The document details how Barri's new supervisor made repeated comments suggesting that Barri was "too old" and criticized him for adhering to what they deemed outdated practices.
Barri's allegations extend beyond age discrimination; he claims that his termination was also retaliatory. Throughout 2024, Barri raised multiple complaints with Wells Fargo's Human Resources Department regarding what he perceived as unfair treatment and undue pressure on employees. These complaints were made not only on his behalf but also as a representative for other employees who felt similarly aggrieved. Despite these efforts being in line with company policy encouraging employees to voice concerns without fear of retaliation, Barri alleges that his actions contributed significantly to his eventual dismissal.
The lawsuit accuses Wells Fargo of violating several laws including California Government Code Section 12940 (age discrimination), Labor Code Section 923 (retaliation), wrongful termination in violation of public policy, breach of contract, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In particular, it highlights how Barri was denied a promotion in favor of a less experienced colleague and received unjustified performance reviews that did not reflect his actual achievements according to objective metrics used by the bank.
Barri is seeking compensatory damages for lost income and benefits as well as emotional distress caused by his termination. Additionally, he is pursuing punitive damages due to what he describes as despicable conduct by Wells Fargo done with malice and oppression. The plaintiff also demands payment for his annual bonus which he argues was wrongfully withheld following his termination just before bonuses were distributed.
Representing Kevin Barri are attorneys Cliff Palefsky and Keith Ehrman from McGuinn, Hillsman & Palefsky based in San Francisco. The case has been assigned Case ID CGC-25-623780 under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court for the State of California in San Francisco.