Farmworkers' $1M Settlement Claims Process Opens

WA Attorney General News Releases

Filed March 2nd, 2026

Detected March 2nd, 2026

Summary

The Washington Attorney General's Office has opened the claims process for a $1 million settlement benefiting farmworkers who worked for Cornerstone Ranches, Orchards, or Farm Management. The settlement resolves allegations of discrimination against local and female farmworkers.

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What changed

The Washington Attorney General's Office has initiated the claims process for a $1 million settlement related to a lawsuit against Cornerstone Ranches, Cornerstone Orchards, and Cornerstone Farm Management. The settlement addresses allegations that the employer discriminated against local and female farmworkers by unlawfully terminating them and replacing them with foreign H-2A workers, while holding local workers to unfair productivity standards and reducing their hours. The claims process is open to farmworkers who were employed by these entities between January 2021 and December 2025.

Affected farmworkers are encouraged to contact the Civil Rights Division via email or phone to determine their eligibility for compensation. This action follows a consent decree resolving a lawsuit that alleged discriminatory practices. While Cornerstone denied the allegations, the settlement aims to provide compensation to displaced workers. Interested parties should reach out to the provided contact information to initiate their claim.

What to do next

Farmworkers who worked for Cornerstone Ranches, Orchards, or Farm Management between January 2021 and December 2025 should contact the Civil Rights Division to determine eligibility for compensation.
Review settlement details and contact information provided by the Washington Attorney General's Office for claims submission.

Penalties

$1 million settlement

Source document (simplified)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Mar 2 2026

Se ha abierto el proceso de reclamos para trabajadores agrícolas bajo el acuerdo con Cornerstone

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has opened the claims process for Washington farmworkers who worked for Cornerstone Ranches, Cornerstone Orchards, or Cornerstone Farm Management and who may be entitled to receive compensation through a $1 million settlement.

Cornerstone, an apple and hops grower based in Toppenish, agreed to a consent decree with the AGO in December resolving a lawsuit that alleged the employer discriminated against local and female farmworkers by unlawfully terminating them and replacing them with foreign H-2A agricultural workers.

According to the lawsuit, Cornerstone fired local workers after holding them to unfair productivity standards and other requirements not similarly applied to H-2A workers, laid off local workers while H-2A employees continued to work, and regularly reduced local workers’ hours and schedules. Many of the workers who were displaced were female, while all of the H-2A workers Cornerstone hired were male. Cornerstone denied the allegations.

If you worked at Cornerstone Ranches, Cornerstone Orchards, or Cornerstone Farm Management between January 2021 and December 2025, we would like to speak with you to determine if you qualify to receive compensation. Please contact the Civil Rights Division by emailing cornerstone@atg.wa.gov or by calling 1-833-660-4877 and selecting Option 6.

Please leave us a message with your full name, phone number, address, and the best time of day to call you. A member of our team will follow up with you in the coming weeks.

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Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

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