Woman Awarded $8 Million After Failed Defamation Scheme By Chain Restaurant

NY POST – The former manager of a California Chipotle Mexican Grill who was accused of stealing more than $600 was awarded nearly $8 million for wrongful termination Thursday.

Jeanette Ortiz was accused in 2015 of stealing $626 in cash from a safe at the Fresno restaurant. Ortiz’s bosses claimed the theft was caught on camera, but she was never shown the video because her bosses told her the evidence had been destroyed.

Ortiz filed a wrongful termination suit after she was let go. A California jury ordered the restaurant to pay Ortiz $7.97 million in damages, according to the Fresno Bee.

The jury ruled Ortiz was a victim of a scheme to defame her for filing a worker’s compensation claim for a job-related wrist injury caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, the newspaper reported.

I just finished watching 'How To Get Away With Murder' on Netflix so I imagine Viola Davis' character Annalise Keating defending Jeanette during this trial. What a verdict. Not only did the jury come to an obvious conclusion of "umm...you don't have the only solid evidence against the defendant so we can't charge her and instead we're gonna charge you, Chipotle, for wasting our time," but they wen't above and beyond stating Mrs. Ortiz was a victim of "a scheme to defame her for filing a worker's comp claim for carpal tunnel"?! Absolutely ruthless move by the defense team in this case. They went for the jugular and struck gold. Everybody is getting paid...forever wondering how I can have my own "get rich quick" scheme...I'll keep you updated.

@traceinthetruck