Starbucks Barista Fired After Tip Jar Clash Gets Job Bias Trial

Starbucks Corp. must face trial on claims by a longtime barista that he was fired because of his age, his cervical spine issues, and his related need for job accommodations.

A jury must decide whether the company’s explanation—that it terminated George Cable because he violated its policy by confronting a customer who allegedly tried to steal the baristas’ tip jar—was pretextual, the US District Court for the Central District of California said. The evidence would support a finding that the tip jar incident was used as a reason to fire Cable, the court said.

The ruling also illustrates that an ...