Cal High Court Lets Stand Starbucks Award Reversal
By wchung | 23 Mar, 2026

The California Supreme Court will not review a appeals court ruling that wiped out an $86 million judgment against coffee giant Starbucks over tip sharing at its stores in the state.

The court did not explain why it refused to take up the case at its weekly conference Wednesday.

In 2008, a San Diego County Superior Court judge ordered Starbucks Corp. to pay millions in restitution to baristas who had to share their tips with supervisors.

In June, the 4th District Court of Appeal reversed that ruling, saying that supervisors perform the same job as baristas and should get their share of collective tip jars.

Former barista Jou Chau filed the class-action lawsuit in 2004 on behalf of more than 100,000 current and former baristas in California. Laura Ho of Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian of Oakland, CA. tried the case on behalf of Chau and the other Starbucks baristas certified as the plaintiff class. The initial award of $105 million had been reduced to $86 mil. prior to the first appeal.

9/10/2009 1:25 AM SAN DIEGO (AP)