Hannemann Law Firm, APC, filed a cross-complaint on August 7 in Imperial County Superior Court (Case Number: ECU004760) that alleges that a California agricultural enterprise used unapproved and synthetic chemicals on produce grown in Mexico and sold in the United States as organic, and that it fired its own Chief Operating Officer within five hours of learning she had retained a lawyer.

Leticia Ridaura worked for the Scaroni Family of Companies for nearly thirty years, rising from an entry-level position in 1996 to Chief Operating Officer. Her cross-complaint, Ridaura v. Valley Harvesting & Packing, Inc., et al., Case No. ECU004760, names twelve affiliated entities along with founder Steve Scaroni and his sons Matt Scaroni and David Scaroni.

The pleading alleges the companies’ Mexican farming operations, run through Harvest Tek de Mexico, knowingly used unapproved agrochemicals on produce grown for export, and that employees were directed to hand-carry those chemicals across the U.S.–Mexico border rather than declare them. The produce was, in the words of the filing, “overwhelmingly designated as organic.”

Ms. Ridaura alleges she objected repeatedly. According to the cross-complaint, Steve Scaroni ultimately relayed his son’s response:

“Just because it is not organic does not mean it’s bad.”

The filing alleges the produce entered a supply chain reaching Costco, Walmart, Albertsons, Aldi, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Subway and Jersey Mike’s. None of those companies is accused of any wrongdoing in the cross-complaint.

The cross-complaint separately alleges a scheme to suppress workplace injury reporting among H-2A farmworkers, including a requirement that crews sign daily forms declaring they had suffered no injury — sometimes before the workday had ended — and that those signed forms were later used to challenge injury claims.

Ms. Ridaura alleges she was subjected to age-based comments, demoted from Chief Operating Officer to a part-time role at $60,000 a year, and terminated by voicemail on April 9, 2026, within five hours of her attorneys sending a letter of representation.

“Leticia Ridaura gave this company thirty years. She was fired by voicemail five hours after she asked a lawyer for help. That is not a coincidence, and we intend to prove it to a jury.”

— Brian G. Hannemann, Hannemann Law Firm, APC, counsel for Ms. Ridaura

She brings claims for whistleblower retaliation, age discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, breach of oral contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and indemnity. She demands a jury trial.

The full release, the paragraph-keyed fact sheet, and the conformed cross-complaint as filed are available at https://ridauracase.com.

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The statements above describe allegations contained in a cross-complaint filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Imperial. Allegations are not evidence and have not been proven. The cross-defendants have not yet responded. No retailer, grocer, restaurant, produce distributor or certifying organization named above is alleged in the cross-complaint to have engaged in any wrongdoing.

 

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