Comcast pie lawsuit alleges store used pie assaults to punish low sales

A Comcast pie lawsuit filed by former retail sales consultant David Figueroa alleges that a Connecticut store manager used a monthly punishment ritual in which the lowest-ranked salesperson was tied to a chair and hit in the face with a cream pie. The complaint says the practice was designed to push sales and customer survey performance at Comcast’s Plainville store, and that the top-ranked salesperson was directed to carry it out.

Figueroa sued Comcast in Connecticut superior court on July 9. He says he was hired on February 2, 2026, worked under store manager Sully Fuentes Peterson, and resigned on February 27 in what he describes as a constructive discharge. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for alleged past and future economic losses and emotional distress.

Comcast disputes the complaint. In a statement reported by Ars Technica, the company said it has “zero tolerance for harassment, humiliation, or any behavior that compromises a respectful and safe workplace.” Comcast said the case is in litigation, declined to address specific allegations beyond saying it disagrees with the complaint and its description of the events, and said it would respond through the legal process. Comcast did not say whether Peterson still works for the company.

What does the Comcast pie lawsuit allege?

The complaint says Peterson “designed and implemented” a system under which sales consultants were ranked, with the lowest performer for the prior month subjected to the pie incident in the back office. Figueroa alleges Comcast did not disclose before he accepted the job that employees could be subjected to physical humiliation by co-workers at a manager’s direction.

The lawsuit describes a chart allegedly kept in the back office that ranked retail sales staff and identified employees who had been hit with pies or were scheduled to be. The complaint includes a photo described as showing first names, months and a pie-face emoji.

Figueroa also alleges that the incidents were recorded. According to the complaint, Peterson videotaped the events and told staff to participate and make their own recordings. Figueroa says he saw and recorded a co-worker named Ty being tied up and hit in the face by another worker who had stronger sales results. The complaint says Peterson ordered the incident, attended it and recorded it, along with other employees.

The lawsuit also cites an alleged incident involving an assistant sales manager named Jania, who Figueroa says was hit with a pie after receiving a poor customer survey score. Figueroa claims he watched a video of that incident on a co-worker’s phone.

Why is Comcast being sued?

Figueroa’s claim against Comcast is framed as negligence. The complaint says the company should have known about the alleged store-level practices, should have understood that they could harm employees, and failed to supervise the store’s management team. It argues that the alleged conduct created a workplace atmosphere that would cause a reasonable person to feel forced to quit.

Figueroa says he called Comcast regional manager Maranda Cody on February 27 to report the alleged pie incidents and to say he was uncomfortable continuing at the store. According to the complaint, Cody asked him to send a text message documenting his concerns and his reasons for wanting to resign. Figueroa says he did not receive a response to that message or to his complaints before resigning.

The allegations land against the backdrop of pressure on Comcast’s cable business, which has been trying to stem customer losses. The company has offered a five-year price guarantee and plans without data caps after Comcast President Mike Cavanagh said in April 2025 that the company was “not winning in the marketplace.” The lawsuit does not claim those corporate moves caused the alleged conduct at the store, but it ties the alleged ritual to retail sales goals and customer survey results.

This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.