A Ford electrician with 11 years of service is preparing to sue Ford Motor Company and cafeteria operator Aramark after being terminated for allegedly stealing a $1.95 package of cookies. Kurt Kromm, 60, maintains the charge was false and that he had paid for the cookies via a self-checkout kiosk at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant.
Kromm was fired in May after a self-checkout kiosk at the plant's cafeteria appeared to show he had not paid for a two-pack of Grandma's Chocolate Chip Cookies. He was reportedly escorted from the facility without his belongings. At the time, Kromm was experiencing a diabetic episode, with his blood sugar having dropped to 60, prompting him to purchase the snack.
He stated that the payment terminal displayed an error message after he swiped his debit card. Although the transaction did not show a clear approval, it also did not register as rejected. Kromm assumed the payment had gone through due to the minor cost.
Path to Reinstatement and Legal Action
A week after the incident, Kromm was summoned to a labor office and informed of his termination. After obtaining proof of the $1.95 transaction from his bank records and submitting it to Ford and union officials, the company demanded a notarized bank statement before reinstating him. Ford also paid Kromm approximately $33,000 in back wages.
Despite being financially compensated and offered his job back, Kromm declined to return to the company. He stated there was no apology from Ford and that he could not return to a company that fired him without allowing him to demonstrate his payment.
Kromm has since retained Kentucky attorney J. Will Huber, who intends to send a demand letter to Ford and Aramark. Huber asserted that the accusations of theft were false and that proof of Kromm's innocence was available to both companies from the outset. He indicated that Kromm intends to pursue substantial legal claims for the companies' handling of the incident.
A Ford spokesperson told The Post that the company does not comment on pending litigation but is reviewing issues raised by Aramark kiosks. Legal experts have offered differing opinions on Kromm's case. New York civil litigation attorney Imran Ansari suggested Kromm might have claims for wrongful termination and defamation, noting that a false theft accusation can cause significant reputational harm. Conversely, Chicago trial lawyer Andrew Stoltmann expressed skepticism, describing the case as potentially weak, particularly because Ford reinstated Kromm and made him financially whole, which could limit damages awarded in wrongful termination suits.