Lilliana Ferns, a former employee of a well-known bakery-café chain, has filed a lawsuit alleging severe workplace misconduct and retaliation. The complaint was lodged on April 3, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, against Flapan LLC, operating as Panera Bread.
The lawsuit outlines a disturbing series of events that began when Ferns started her employment at Panera Bread as a Shift Supervisor in August 2023. She claims to have been subjected to persistent sexual harassment by her superior, Gabriel. According to the complaint, Gabriel made unwanted sexual advances toward Ferns starting in February 2024 after ending his romantic relationship with another individual. He allegedly called her derogatory names such as "babe," "my love," and "my little white girl" despite her objections. The situation escalated when Gabriel reportedly physically assaulted Ferns by pressing himself against her and later choking her against a wall while another supervisor, Ariel, failed to intervene.
Ferns reported these incidents to both her immediate supervisor and the Human Resources department but alleges that no meaningful action was taken. Instead of resolving the issue, she faced further distress when transferred to another location with reduced pay. In May 2024, Gabriel visited this new location, triggering a panic attack for Ferns due to unresolved tensions and lack of protective measures from the company.
By July 2024, Ferns claims that the emotional toll became unbearable due to continuous exposure to harassment and inadequate responses from Panera Bread's management. Her complaints about sexual harassment were met with suspension without pay and eventual forced resignation under what she describes as an intolerable work environment designed to lead to termination.
In response to these allegations, Ferns is seeking relief through multiple counts including violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Florida Civil Rights Act for sexual harassment and retaliation. She demands compensation for lost wages (both back pay and front pay), damages for emotional distress and humiliation, punitive damages aimed at deterring future misconduct by the defendant, reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
The case is being handled by attorney Kyle J. Lee from Lee Law PLLC based in Brandon, Florida. The case number is 502025CA003405XXXAMB.