A federal lawsuit alleges that a fast-food franchise operator failed to protect an employee from repeated sexual harassment by her supervisor and retaliated against her after she reported the conduct. The complaint was filed by Niyana Golla in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on March 9, 2026, naming Shamrock TBC, Inc., doing business as Taco Bell, as the defendant.
According to the filing, Golla worked as a cashier for the defendant from December 13, 2023 until July 25, 2025. She claims that during her employment she experienced ongoing sex-based discrimination and harassment by her general manager. The complaint states that these actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The lawsuit outlines several incidents beginning in March 2025 when Golla was seventeen years old. It alleges that Jacob Pasco, identified as the general manager and then thirty-two years old, began targeting Golla with unwanted physical contact and inappropriate comments. According to the complaint, “Jacob would grab Plaintiff and subject her to unwelcome physical contact” and “would attempt to show off his Pornhub account and would make inappropriate comments such as ‘look at her ass.'” The document further alleges that Jacob sent text messages asking to touch Golla inappropriately despite knowing she was a minor at the time.
Golla asserts that she reported this behavior to an area manager who told her Jacob would be fired; however, he remained employed and no remedial action was taken. The complaint describes continued harassment after this report: “Following Plaintiff’s report, the sexual harassment continued, including unwelcome stares every couple of days.” The last sexually charged text message from Jacob is said to have occurred in April 2025.
In July 2025, according to the filing, Jacob allegedly pretended to masturbate with a sauce bottle in Golla’s direction while at work. The complaint states this incident led Golla to resign: “This action was Plaintiff’s breaking point as Plaintiff’s initial report had not been taken seriously and Plaintiff was still experiencing sexual harassment from her manager.” She claims she faced constructive discharge due to these circumstances.
The legal arguments presented include three counts under Title VII: sex-based discrimination (Count I), sex-based harassment (also Count I), and retaliation (Count II). In each count, Golla alleges that Shamrock TBC failed to take appropriate steps after being notified of discriminatory conduct. She claims she suffered adverse employment actions—including loss of employment—because she reported unlawful behavior: “Plaintiff suffered multiple adverse employment actions including…being constructively discharged.” Furthermore, she contends that after reporting Jacob again following her resignation—and despite management seeing evidence—no disciplinary action was taken against him.
The complaint also notes that prior administrative steps were completed before filing suit: Golla filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), received a Notice of Right to Sue within ninety days before filing this case, and references an EEOC determination finding reasonable cause for discrimination.
As relief from the court, Golla requests back pay with interest; payment of interest on all back pay recoverable; front pay; loss of benefits; compensatory and punitive damages; reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs; pre-judgment interest if applicable; and any other relief deemed just by the court. She has requested a jury trial for all issues presented.
The plaintiff is represented by attorneys Travis P. Lampert and Mohammad Badwan of Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., based in Lombard, Illinois. The case is identified as Case No. 1:26-cv-02602.
Source: 126cv02602_Niyana_Golla_v_Shamrock_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf