Taco Bell lawsuit claims worker faced violent threats after reporting Christmas party

Taco Bell Christmas party lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Former Taco Bell worker Alana Bechiom filed a lawsuit against the restaurant, her then-supervisor Lidia Ruiz and franchisee Alvarado Restaurant Group. 
• Why: Bechiom claims she was retaliated against and threatened with violence before ultimately resigning after reporting the events of an allegedly alcohol-fueled Christmas party to Taco Bell’s human resources department. 
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in California.

A former Taco Bell cashier was retaliated against with vandalism to their vehicle and threats of violence after they reported the events of an all-staff Christmas party to the restaurant’s human resources department, before ultimately being constructively terminated, a new lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Alana Bechiom claims a window was smashed out of her car and she received threats of violence by text from multiple coworkers in the days after reporting the events of the allegedly alcohol-fueled Christmas party to Taco Bell and franchisee Alvarado Restaurant Group (ARG). 

Bechiom argues Taco Bell and ARG — which own the Los Angeles store — did “nothing” after being informed about the alleged threats and simply told her they would be transferring her to a new location, rather than disciplining the employees. 

“Plaintiff felt so overcome with significant stress, physical and mental illness and anxiety from the hostile work environment, that she had no other choice but to inform Defendants Taco Bell and ARG that she was resigning,” the Taco Bell lawsuit states. 

Taco Bell Christmas party included public sex, vomiting, says suit

The Christmas party included public sex between one of Bechiom’s male co-workers and his wife, who Bechiom claims was also kissing her supervisor, Lidia Ruiz and another employee, Adriana, who both later were seen vomiting, the Taco Bell lawsuit alleges. 

“Adriana stated that she wanted to physically fight Plaintiff at that point. Thankfully, no fight occurred because Plaintiff was able to deescalate the situation,” the Taco Bell lawsuit states. 

Bechiom claims Taco Bell and ARG are guilty of wrongful constructive termination in violation of public policy, in violation of several California labor codes and guilty of discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment sexual harassment and failure to investigate and prevent all under the California Fair Employment Housing Act. 

The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of general, special, punitive and liquidated damages. 

A class action lawsuit was filed against Taco Bell earlier this year by a consumer arguing the restaurant falsely advertises how much beef and other ingredients some of its products contain. 

Have you been constructively terminated by an employer? Let us know in the comments. 

The plaintiff is represented by D. Aaron Brock, Christopher P. Brandes and Bianca M. Dulgheru of Brock & Gonzales LLP.

The Taco Bell Christmas party lawsuit is Bechiom v. Taco Bell Corp., et al., Case No. 23STCV27981, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.

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