Sommelier Loses Unfair Dismissal Case Over Harassment Allegations

A sommelier who quit his job at E & J Gallo Winery after facing accusations of sexual harassment at a corporate event has lost an unfair dismissal case. Jake Crimmin claimed his resignation was forced and that the investigation was predetermined.

Mr. Crimmin was accused of making inappropriate comments and touching two women at a food pairing dinner hosted by Gallo and drinks company Molson Coors in January 2025. One woman alleged that Mr. Crimmin commented on her engagement, stating he wished he had met her on a dating app, and placed his hand on her thigh, sliding it up towards her buttocks.

The second woman reported that Mr. Crimmin touched her back and placed his hand on her thigh while they were seated together. She also stated he called her 'beautiful' and asked if she received such compliments often, to which she replied, 'definitely not at work.'

Mr. Crimmin, who previously worked at the three-Michelin star restaurant L'Enclume, began working for the global winery E & J Gallo Winery in August 2022. The company, known for its $5.3 billion annual revenue, has its UK headquarters in Uxbridge, California.

Following the allegations, Mr. Crimmin was suspended in February 2025. He subsequently resigned the following day, citing that he felt the disciplinary process had been predetermined and that he was struggling with anxiety. He informed the winery that returning to work would be difficult given the allegations.

During the employment tribunal, Employment Judge Patrick Quill addressed Mr. Crimmin's assertion that the winery's zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment meant his dismissal was inevitable. The judge clarified that such a policy does not preclude a fair hearing, drawing a parallel to a zero-tolerance policy on theft, which does not automatically result in dismissal upon allegation.

Judge Quill deemed comments made by an investigator and an international director after Mr. Crimmin's resignation to be irrelevant to the case. He noted that the investigator's expression of pleasure at Mr. Crimmin's resignation occurred after the fact and did not influence his decision to resign. Similarly, comments from the international director, Edouard Baijot, suggested resignation was the best choice for Mr. Crimmin's career, made after the resignation itself.

The judge also dismissed Mr. Crimmin's claim that his dismissal was motivated by redundancy, calling the assertion "very far-fetched" and unsupported by evidence. The tribunal concluded that there was no indication of improper motive or a hidden agenda behind the winery's decision to investigate the allegations.