Reprinted by permission of the Daily Journal.
EMPLOYMENT LAW WHISTLEBLOWER RETALIATION Wrongful Termination Verdict: $52,460,862
FILING DATE: Feb. 25, 2022
CASE/NUMBER: Joseph Williams, Jesus Lopez, Luis Melendez, Jose Lopez, Herbert Castro; Jason Carley Munz v. Sysco Riverside Inc.; Sysco Corporation; Randy Hoover; Patti Cheleske; Jon Nelson; Mario Guerrero; Chris Wiley; Theresa Livesay; Terence Johnson, and Does 1 through 100, inclusive / 20STCV18692
COURT/DATE: Los Angeles Superior / Jan. 30, 2026
JUDGE: Bobbi Tillmon
ATTORNEYS: Plaintiff – Maryann P. Gallagher (Law Offices of Maryann P. Gallagher); Mia Murro (Genie Harrison Law Firm); Shannon H.P. Ward, Martin L. Aarons (Aarons Ward-APC) Defendant – Nancy L. Patterson, Max C. Fischer, Anahi Cruz, Roshni C. Kapoor, Pilar Hoye (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP)
FACTS: Five Sysco employees—primarily drivers and spotters—sued Sysco for whistleblower retaliation and wrongful termination, alleging they were targeted after reporting numerous safety and legal violations. They alleged that managers forced drivers to speed in the yard, requiring trailers to be loaded with perishable food at hazardous temperatures of up to 70 degrees instead of the required 40, and mandated that pre-trip inspections be completed in an impossible 20-minute window, which allegedly forced the use of “cheat sheets” to bypass actual safety checks. They alleged that they were branded as troublemakers and penalized accordingly. The defense argued that all disciplinary actions were based on legitimate business reasons, citing misconduct such as sleeping on the job; smoking while handling food and theft of company time. The case proceeded to a jury trial.
RESULT: The jury found defendant liable for whistleblower retaliation and wrongful termination. It rendered a plaintiffs’ verdict of $52,460,862, which included compensatory damages of $31,135,862 and punitive damages of $21,325,000.