Chipotle Said She Stole $626. Then the Video "Disappeared."

The surveillance footage existed, Chipotle told her. It showed everything. Then Jeanette Ortiz asked to see it - and suddenly, it didn't exist anymore.

Fourteen Years and a Hurt Wrist

Jeanette Ortiz had worked at Chipotle for 14 years and was a general manager earning around $70,000 a year. She had received excellent performance reviews throughout her career and, according to her colleagues, was well-liked. In late 2014, she developed carpal tunnel syndrome from the repetitive demands of the job and filed a workers' compensation claim.

Around the same time, she was being considered for a promotion - a regional role that would have paid around $100,000 annually.

The $626 Accusation

In January 2015, shortly after her claim was filed, Chipotle accused Ortiz of stealing $626 in cash from the restaurant safe. Management told her the theft had been captured on surveillance video. She was terminated.

Ortiz asked to see the footage. She was told the video had been destroyed.

She sued, arguing the theft accusation was fabricated - a pretext to fire her for filing the workers' comp claim.

What the Jury Decided

A Fresno County jury agreed. In May 2018, after hearing the evidence - or rather, the conspicuous absence of it - they found that Chipotle had maliciously fired Ortiz in retaliation for seeking compensation for a workplace injury.

The verdict: $7.97 million. The breakdown was $6 million for emotional distress and $1.97 million for lost past and future wages.

Jurors were particularly troubled by Chipotle's failure to have any corporate policy on retaining security camera footage or conducting workplace investigations.

Before the Jury Could Do More Damage

The $7.97 million verdict was for compensatory damages only. Punitive damages - the figure juries use to punish deliberate misconduct - hadn't been determined yet.

Chipotle settled before that hearing. The amount is confidential, but Ortiz's attorney confirmed it covered court costs, attorney fees, and resolved her complaint in full.

The destroyed video cost them a lot more than $626.