A father has accused a popular California cider company of plotting to fire him for taking leave to care for his premature newborn son.

Emilio Arellano alleged in a lawsuit that Golden State Cider (GSC) discriminated and retaliated against him due to his need for flexibility in caring for his son, who was born three months early and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

According to the lawsuit, the father had been employed with the Sonoma County-based company for almost eight years and had become a cellar supervisor when his son was born premature in October 2024.

Arellano took four months of parental leave and then requested to work a half-day every other Friday to attend his son’s medical appointments.

The lawsuit claimed that although his supervisors were agreeable, the company had already labeled him as an inconvenience and burden, putting a plan in place to terminate him.

While Arellano was on leave, the suit claimed, Golden State CEO Chris Lacey implemented a new attendance policy that banned remote work and required termination upon an employee’s fifth time calling out of work.

The lawsuit said that when Arellano complained about the policy, he was retaliated against with a poor performance review.

‘[The review] refers to Mr. Arellano’s alleged “negative” and “combative” tone, “use of profanity,” and the need to improve communication for “scheduled appointments,”‘ the court filing said.

Emilio Arellano (pictured with his wife and baby) claimed Golden State Cider discriminated and retaliated against him for needing flexibility to care for his premature son

The father had worked with the Sonoma County-based Golden State Cider for nearly eight years, reaching the position of cellar supervisor, when his son was born premature

His lawsuit also accuses Golden State CEO Chris Lacey of having a history of bias against parents and expectant mothers

‘His total score on the evaluation, 12 out of 20, limited his salary increase to just one percent.’

Arellano said he took a half day on February 14 to attend his son’s medical appointment, which was allegedly used against him when the company fired him.

‘Lacey chose to mock Mr. Arellano, insinuating that he was merely taking an afternoon off – on Valentine’s Day, no less – to sulk over a performance review when he knew Mr. Arellano was spending that time in a place no parent ever wants to be,’ the lawsuit explained.

The lawsuit also alleged that GSC’s human resources director, Rachel Aragon, conspired with Lacey to push the narrative that things were ‘spiraling’ almost immediately upon Arellano’s return from leave. 

‘Scrolling through Aragon’s email exchange reveals concerted efforts to manufacture evidence against Mr. Arellano,’ the suit said. 

Arellano claimed he had properly notified Aragon when he would need to take time off, but she did not communicate that with the rest of the team, leading to some of his reprimands. 

Arellano claimed he complained to HR and was subsequently written up for a production error that he said was his boss’s fault.

After he complained about being blamed for the error, Arellano said, he was placed on administrative leave and then fired – all within eight weeks of his return from parental leave.

The lawsuit alleged that GSC’s human resources director, Rachel Aragon, conspired with the CEO to push the narrative that things were ‘spiraling’ almost immediately upon Arellano’s return from leave

Arellano said he was retaliated against for complaining about the cider company’s attendance policy change with a poor performance review, then was blamed for a production error he didn’t cause before being fired

‘As an attorney, I rarely see a long-term employee return from a protected leave for the birth of his child and come back and immediately face accusations, writeups, false accusations, then eventually termination,’ Arellano’s lawyer, Corey Bennett, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The lawsuit also alleged that Lacey and GSC have a history of bias against parents and expectant mothers.

In one incident, GSC’s Director of Marketing, Breanne Heuss, had allegedly disclosed her pregnancy to Lacey.

‘His response to her announcement was telling: “I didn’t think we’d be going through this with you again. I thought one would be it,”‘ Lacey said, according to the lawsuit.

‘He later tried to pass it off as a joke, but she knew he was serious.’

The lawsuit also stated that Lacey previously ‘had directed Ms. Heuss to fire a male employee just before his wife was due, explaining, “It seems like he wants to be a stay-at-home dad anyway.”‘

Arellano, who is being represented by lawyers from King & Siegel, is seeking damages to be determined at trial.

‘I am appalled by how this company, which I had loved and had been a part of for so long, targeted me and personally attacked my character, without any basis,’ Arellano said in a statement to the Daily Mail.

‘I wasn’t asking for special treatment, just the chance to do my job and be there for my family. The efforts taken to wrongfully get rid of me have had a rippling effect through my life, and my family’s.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Golden State Cider for comment.