Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office has filed a federal lawsuit against Starbucks accusing the coffee company violating federal and state laws prohibiting race discrimination.
The lawsuit, filed February 11 in federal court in St. Louis, alleges Starbucks enforces race-and-sex-based hiring practices, unlawfully segregates employees and provides exclusive training and employment benefits to select groups in violation of anti-discrimination laws.
“As Attorney General, I have a responsibility to protect Missourians from a company that actively engages in systemic race and sex discrimination,” Bailey said in a press release. “Racism has no place in Missouri.
Bailey
| File photo
“We’re filing suit to halt this blatant violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act in its tracks.”
As the complaint notes, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled two years ago that federal law prohibits discrimination based on race.
“Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it,” the complaint states, quoting the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. Pres. and Fellows of Harvard Coll.
The complaint claims this principle applies not only to college admissions, but also to employment decisions.
It says Starbucks has blatantly violated the law by linking its compensation to racial and gender quotas. Additionally, the company discriminates based on race and gender when it comes to board membership. All of these actions are unlawful.
“Indeed, for years, and to this day, Starbucks has engaged in employment discrimination, one of the most odious practices possible,” the complaint states. “And although it might have a right to disagree with that sentiment, it does not have a right to discriminate on the basis of race.
“Yet, that is precisely what Starbucks has done, is doing, and, if not stopped by the judicial system, will keep doing here in Missouri. It has told Missourians — employees, applicants, and consumers alike — that Starbucks is a great place to work, where everyone is treated equally.
“But these statements are false, misleading, and deceptive. Rather, Starbucks has decided to require outright race- and sex-based discrimination in hiring via quotas, segregate employees on unlawful bases, and single out preferred groups for additional training and employment benefits.”
The complaint says the state is suing Starbucks to address the injury of its Missouri employees being subject to unlawful employment discrimination through the state’s Human Rights Act.
Starbucks has nearly 200 locations in Missouri, according to the complaint.
“With Starbucks’ discriminatory patterns, practices, and policies, Missouri’s consumers are required to pay higher prices and wait longer for goods and services that could be provided for less had Starbucks employed the most qualified workers, regardless of their race, color, sex, or national origin,” the complaint states.
Bailey’s office accuses Starbucks of unlawful hiring, firing and discriminatory practices; unlawful attempted or actual aiding, abetting, compelling or coercion; unlawful training programs; unlawful limiting, segregation or classification; unlawful printing or circulation; and discriminatory contracting impairment.
The state seeks a declaration that these practices are unlawful under the federal Civil Acts Right and the state Human Rights Act; a temporary restraining order as well as a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining Starbucks from discriminating on the bases of race, color, sex, national origin or ancestry; a temporary restraining order as well as a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining the company from unlawfully misrepresenting to job applicants and customers that it does not engage in unlawful discrimination; an order requiring Starbucks to notify employees its practices have violated the Civil Rights Act and the state Human Rights Act; an order requiring the company to change its policies; and an order requiring Starbucks to rehire any employee or rescind any discipline imposed on an employee who was fired or disciplined because of their alleged unlawful practices.
The state also seeks compensatory damages, double damages, treble damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages, nominal damages, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.
This is not the first time Bailey’s office has filed suit to hold big corporations accountable.
In June, the office sued International Business Machines Corporation for allegedly violating the state Human Rights Act. The complaint says IBM enforced hiring quotas based on race, amongst other acts of discrimination. The IBM litigation is pending.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri case number 4:25-cv-00165