Grocery store sued after employee allegedly stole underwear from coworkers

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A grocery chain in the area is being sued by former workers who claim the company didn’t provide adequate workplace security, leading to criminal activity involving an employee.

So, this is crazy – apparently two ex-Stew Leonard’s employees are saying the company messed up big time with security. They’re claiming a coworker was able to get their personal info and actually broke into their houses because of it. It’s a really scary situation, and they’re holding Stew Leonard’s responsible.

The lawsuit claims the company’s store in Newington, Connecticut, didn’t provide employees with enough secure lockers or safe working conditions.

Employees claim workplace negligence led to home invasions

The lawsuit claims one person reported an employee broke into a damaged file cabinet at work, photographed her driver’s license and house key, then used that information to enter her home and steal several pairs of underwear.

The complaint states the employee was later captured on surveillance cameras inside the residence.

The plaintiff stated she experienced severe and lasting injuries – both physical and emotional – as well as a violation of her privacy. She also incurred medical bills, lost income due to time off work, and had to end a 13-year career as a result.

Another person filing a claim stated the employee took her house key from an unlocked locker at the store and used it to break into her home, stealing underwear. Like the first claimant, she also reported emotional distress and had to quit her job as a result.

Both plaintiffs state the incidents happened because the company was negligent and didn’t take proper care to ensure a safe work environment. They allege the company didn’t keep the workplace safe, provide secure lockers for employees, or thoroughly check the backgrounds of those they hired.

The lawsuit claims the company was aware, or should have been aware, of the employee’s past criminal record. It also states they didn’t perform thorough background checks or put enough security in place.

Company denies allegations ahead of trial

In a letter from April 24th, the defendants stated they disagreed with the accusations and denied being negligent or acting recklessly.

According to the document, the employee was upfront about past convictions when applying for the job, and a background check verified those records. These convictions, which happened several years ago, involved burglary and similar crimes.

The company refuted allegations that lockers weren’t secure, confirming that lockers were lockable and security systems were active.

I was really surprised to hear the defense claim they couldn’t have predicted what happened, and they also seemed to downplay how much help the people who were hurt actually needed. They kept saying the treatment wasn’t that extensive, which just didn’t seem right to me.

The lawsuit includes G2G3 Newington LLC and the person responsible for property upkeep, in addition to claims of invasion of privacy, burglary, home invasion, and theft against the employee.

The people bringing the lawsuit are asking for more than $15,000 in financial compensation, not including any additional interest or court fees. The trial has been set for April 28th, according to the Connecticut court system.

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2026-04-28 21:29