Former Folgers Employee Files Discrimination Lawsuit
A longtime production worker alleges race and gender discrimination led to her 2025 termination from the New Orleans facility.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Coffee
Lynetta Shere Coats filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. Coats, who worked for The Folger Coffee Company for 17 years, claims her employment was ended in October 2025 without written notice.
Why it matters
The legal filing highlights allegations of bias and retaliatory practices within the local manufacturing industry. The case brings attention to workplace protections for employees reporting safety concerns and undergoing medical treatments.
The legal complaint submitted by Lynetta Shere Coats spans 20 pages and details allegations including three pregnancy losses. The suit challenges the termination of an employee who had served at the Old Gentilly Road facility since 2008.
The players
Lynetta Shere Coats
She is a former hourly production employee at the New Orleans coffee manufacturing facility who served the company for 17 years.
The Folger Coffee Company
This entity operates a major coffee roasting and manufacturing facility located on Old Gentilly Road in New Orleans.
The details
Coats claims she was subjected to disparate treatment after reporting a male technician's threats to Human Resources in February 2019 and being placed on a performance plan in 2020. The lawsuit further notes she was undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment at the time of her firing and underwent surgery on November 19, 2025.
Timeline
Folgers hired Coats as an hourly production employee in 2008.
Coats reported workplace threats to Human Resources in February 2019.
Coats was placed on a performance improvement plan in 2020.
The Folger Coffee Company terminated Coats in October 2025.
Coats underwent surgery on November 19, 2025.
Culture Shift
This case reflects a broader shift toward greater scrutiny of corporate workplace conduct and the enforcement of anti-discrimination policies in manufacturing settings. It underscores the ongoing challenges workers face in documenting and challenging perceived bias within long-tenured roles.
The lawsuit draws focus to workplace safety and management practices at the prominent Old Gentilly Road roasting facility. Residents may note the legal proceedings as they progress through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The takeaway
Employees should maintain thorough records of workplace communications and performance feedback to protect their rights in potential disputes. Understanding company policies regarding termination and medical leave is essential for navigating corporate employment environments.
Further reading
For more on industry standards and local workplace issues, visit Coffee.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Legal Newsline.
