Tracy Foxworth has filed a compelling lawsuit against Mark Anthony Brands, Inc., alleging workplace discrimination and retaliation. The complaint was submitted to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on January 9, 2025. Foxworth accuses her former employer, a prominent player in the alcoholic beverage industry, of engaging in discriminatory practices based on sex, age, and sexual orientation.
The plaintiff, Tracy Foxworth, claims that during her tenure at Mark Anthony Brands, Inc. (MABI), she faced discrimination due to her gender and age. Hired initially as a Field Sales Manager in August 2009 and later promoted to Key Accounts Manager, Foxworth alleges that despite consistently meeting or exceeding performance targets throughout her 14-year career with MABI, she was subjected to unfair treatment. She points out that following the promotion of Mo Baldwin to Key Account Director in May 2023, she began experiencing exclusion from meetings and limited communication compared to younger employees. This culminated in an "out of cycle" negative performance rating by Baldwin in February 2024—a move she argues was unjustified given her prior exemplary performance reviews.
Foxworth further asserts that after voicing concerns about favoritism towards younger heterosexual female employees and lack of inclusion for older or LGBTQ+ staff members in July 2023, she became a target for retaliatory actions by Baldwin. Her complaints were allegedly ignored by the company’s Human Resources department. She contends that these actions ultimately led to her wrongful termination on March 22, 2024—just days before she would have been eligible for a fiscal year-end bonus.
In her legal filing, Foxworth seeks multiple forms of relief from the court: declaratory judgments affirming violations of federal and state anti-discrimination laws; injunctive relief mandating policy changes within MABI; reinstatement or front pay; compensatory damages including back pay and lost benefits; punitive damages; attorney's fees; and costs associated with the lawsuit. The complaint underscores her emotional distress caused by the alleged discriminatory practices.
Represented by attorney Jessica Vasquez from Vasquez Law Office in New Orleans, Foxworth is determined to hold Mark Anthony Brands accountable for what she perceives as systemic discrimination within their ranks. The case has been assigned Civil Action No. 25-74 under an unspecified judge's oversight.