A Washington state judge has ordered Alan Tagle, owner of the Beehive Espresso chain, to pay over $1.85 million to 70 former baristas for wage violations, including tip theft and failure to pay minimum wage. ([streetinsider.com](https://www.streetinsider.com/Globe%2BNewswire/Bikini%2BBaristas%2BHold%2BEmployer%2BAccountable%2Bin%2BWage%2BTheft%2BClass%2BAction%E2%80%94Recovering%2BMillions%2Bin%2BCompensation/27026513.html?utm_source=openai))
Tagle’s practices included imposing strict sales targets, requiring baristas to forfeit wages and tips to meet these goals, and failing to provide paychecks or track hours. ([workingwarightscenter.org](https://workingwarightscenter.org/2026/09/70-bikini-baristas-in-western-washington-win-years-long-wage-theft-fight-against-beehive-espresso-owner-alan-tagle/?utm_source=openai))
In response, Tagle sought to reduce the judgment, arguing that the court applied uniform assumptions about unpaid work without reliable evidence across the class. ([law360.com](https://www.law360.com/articles/2531612?utm_source=openai))
This case highlights the importance of enforcing labor laws and holding employers accountable for wage violations, regardless of the industry’s nature.