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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Surely You Jest, Fired Chicken Worker Says

FRESNO, Calif. (CN) - A 41-year employee, the only female supervisor at Foster Farms' chicken plant, claims the chicken giant fired and defamed her on the bogus pretext that she had retrieved quarters from rest-room tampon dispensers; she claims the real reason is sex and age discrimination.

Idalia Perezchica sued Foster Poultry Farms in Fresno Superior Court, for breach of contract, wrongful firing, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Perezchica says she worked for Foster Farms for 41 years without any significant disciplinary problems or write-ups.

She claims Foster fired her in "retaliation for her participation as a witness in a sexual harassment investigation" involving a plant manager and another employee.

Because of that, and because she was 59 and the only female supervisor at the plant, she says, Foster fired her "on false pretenses, claiming that she had stolen and misappropriate property of Foster Farms, specifically quarters that she retrieved from machines in two women's restroom that dispensed feminine hygiene products. In other words, she would jeopardize a job in which she was annually compensated in excess of $73,000.00 for a few quarters."

She demands punitive damages of more than $250,000. She is represented by Russell Ryan, with Motschiedler, Michaelides, Wishon, Brewer & Ryan.

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