AG sues owner of bikini barista stands in Snohomish County

EVERETT — Attorney General Nick Brown’s office filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court on Tuesday against the owner of four bikini barista coffee stands in King and Snohomish counties after he allegedly violated multiple state laws by subjecting employees to sexual harassment, retaliation and wage theft.

Jonathan Tagle’s company, Tagle Investments LLC, owns Paradise Espresso stands in Tukwila, Monroe, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace. As corporate officer and sole manager, Tagle is responsible for day-to-day operations of the coffee stands, including hiring and firing, setting schedules and paying workers, according to a Washington State Attorney General’s Office press release.

“Our team investigation found that the employer broke the law in multiple ways and created a workplace that left his employees stressed and traumatized,” Brown said in the release Thursday. “Protecting worker rights is one of my top priorities as attorney general. That includes making sure no one trying to earn a living is treated in such a demeaning and exploitative way as the women were in this case.”

The lawsuit alleges Tagle created a work environment of sexual harassment and failed to pay minimum wage for all hours worked, maintain a regular pay schedule, provide paid sick leave, notify employees of such benefit and withheld tips, the release said.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/ag-sues-owner-of-bikini-barista-stands-in-snohomish-county/