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Shuttered Bakery Sweet Lady Jane Is Facing a Lawsuit for Wage Theft, Mismanagement
Pastry chef and Sweet Lady Jane founder Jane Lockhart pictured with the Triple Berry Cake and a chocolate cake.
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Popular bakery Sweet Lady Jane, which abruptly closed at the end of last year, has been sued by former workers alleging wage theft and other illegal management practices.
Former employee Blanca Juarez, who filed the suit on behalf of herself and other workers, alleged that Sweet Lady Jane failed to pay overtime, provide meal and rest periods, pay minimum wage in some instances, and keep complete and accurate payroll records.
Juarez worked as an hourly worker for the bakery between October and November 2022, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed in June 2023, months before the beloved local bakery suddenly shut down.
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In a statement posted to their website announcing the Dec. 31 closure, Sweet Lady Jane said, “sales are not enough to continue doing business in the state of California, allowing us to service our lease obligations and pay our treasured employees a living wage without passing those costs directly on to you.”
Sweet Lady Jane opened in 1988 on Melrose Avenue, becoming one of Hollywood's preferred bakeries. It later added five other locations, all of which are now closed. Prior to the closure, the bakery said it had been planning to add two new locations this year.
According to the Los Angeles Times, which first reported the lawsuit, Sweet Lady Jane has filed for a state alternative to bankruptcy. LAist has reached out to Sweet Lady Jane and Juarez's lawyers for comment.
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