In 2016, plaintiff Timothy Pruitt, 54, information technology specialist, was fired from Genentech Inc. two days after an investigation into his complaint of race discrimination was closed. Pruitt, a black man, claimed that he was fired for submitting a race-discrimination complaint against his manager. Pruitt sued Genentech Inc., alleging that the actions against him constituted racial discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination. Pruitt claimed that his manager at the Vacaville office discriminated against him based on his race. He alleged that two days after the investigation into his complaint was closed, the same manager named in his discrimination complaint made the decision to terminate him. Pruitt claimed that the manager’s decision to terminate him was in retaliation for making the initial complaint. Defense counsel contended that Pruitt’s termination was for intentional misconduct in violation of Genentech’s code of conduct. Specifically, counsel contended that Pruitt was fired for stealing half a sandwich from the company cafeteria and for falsifying a timecard after receiving warnings about timecard inaccuracy., Prior to his termination, Pruitt worked for Genentech for 21 years, including three years as a contractor. He claimed that as a result of being fired, he suffered from emotional distress and a loss of earnings. Pruitt sought recovery of lost wages, and damages for his emotional pain and suffering.