Ex-Starbucks Exec Receives Massive Settlement For Racial Discrimination, And Here's The Kicker...

A federal jury awarded Phillips $25 million in punitive damages and an additional $600,000 in compensatory damages after unanimously agreeing that Starbucks had fired her on racial grounds. Phillips, who worked for Starbucks for 13 years, alleged that she and other white employees became scapegoats, suspended or let go from their jobs "to convince the community that [Starbucks] had properly responded to the incident."

The incident in question was the infamous arrest of two black men, Rashon Nelson, and Donte Robinson, at a Starbucks store in Philadelphia five years ago. The men were arrested after employees told them they could not use the store restrooms unless they first made a purchase. The men refused to leave or purchase anything, insisting they were still waiting for a third party. An employee eventually called the cops, and the two were arrested, though they were never charged with any crime.

 INTERESTING WATCH: RFK TALKING TO GLENN BECK ON WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

Phillips was not the manager on duty when the arrest occurred, nor was she involved in the decision to call the police on Nelson and Robinson. She was a regional director overseeing 100 stores spanning parts of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. She had little input in the day-to-day operations of those establishments. Yet she alleged in the lawsuit that she was fired because she complained of and objected to race discrimination.

 WATCH: WE NEED MORE DAD'S LIKE THIS

June 15, 2023

She claimed that she was ordered to place a white manager, who had been with the company for 15 years, on administrative leave for supposed racial discrimination, even though Phillips did not believe the man had done anything wrong. Senior officials had received a complaint that non-white employees working at the man's store were paid less than white employees.

 WILL HARVEY WEINSTEIN'S RETRIAL ACTUALLY EVER HAPPEN?

Still, Phillips countered that the manager could not be held responsible even if the accusation were true since local managers have no say in employee compensation, per company policy. After Phillips refused to suspend the man, she was fired with the explanation that "the situation is not recoverable," the complaint said.

 UNIVERSITIES HAVE LOST THEIR WAY, ARE THEY THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM?

Phillips also noted in court documents that the Dstore's District manager where the arrests occurred is black but had not been reprimanded or otherwise penalized for his connection with the incident. After she was fired, Phillips said she was replaced with "substantially less qualified employees who had not complained of race discrimination."

 INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE SHAKES UP 2024 OLYMPICS WITH THIS INVITATION...

Starbucks denied the accusations then and claimed that Phillips had been terminated for demonstrating poor leadership during the incident, which the company characterized as a "crisis."

Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson expressed disappointment and told CNN that the company would soon evaluate its next steps. On the other hand, Phillips is celebrating the decision, claiming she is "very pleased" with the outcome. However, she also indicated that she will still seek back pay from Starbucks. According to the Daily Mail, Phillips may have earned up to $200,000 a year during her time with the company.