The owner of Seattle-area Paradise Espresso, Jonathan Tagle, along with his company, Tagle Investments LLC, has formally accused the Washington State Office of the Attorney General of defaming him and his business in connection with a high-profile wage theft and employment discrimination lawsuit. In court filings submitted Monday, Tagle alleged that the AG’s office included “known falsehoods” in both the official complaint and an accompanying press release, unfairly disparaging his bikini barista business and harming its reputation.
The original lawsuit, filed in September 2025, alleges that Tagle forced employees at multiple Paradise Espresso locations to perform nude “shows,” provide sexual favors to maintain their work hours, and endure hostile working conditions. According to the complaint, this alleged misconduct spanned more than a decade and involved all four Paradise Espresso locations operating in the Seattle area, where baristas often wear bikinis or lingerie while serving a predominantly male clientele.
In response to these allegations, Tagle and his company have requested that a Washington state judge preserve their counterclaims for defamation and tortious interference with business expectancy. The filings assert that the AG’s press release went beyond a neutral announcement of the lawsuit, instead portraying allegations as established legal facts rather than claims under investigation. Tagle argues that the press release and related communications have caused reputational and financial harm to his business.
“These statements are presented as judicially determined facts rather than allegations under investigation and yet to be tried,” Tagle’s filing reads. He contends that the AG’s office acted improperly by spreading inaccurate and unfounded allegations during witness interactions, filing a complaint containing false information, and distributing a press release that misrepresented the status and nature of the case.
The Washington State Office of the Attorney General has countered, arguing that its actions are protected and justified by compelling public policy interests. The office maintains that it is authorized under state law to investigate potential violations of employment discrimination statutes and the Minimum Wage Act, and that the case involves issues of significant public concern. In opposing Tagle’s motion, the AG’s office emphasized that it has a duty to protect workers and the public by pursuing claims of wage theft, sexual harassment, and hostile work environments where legally warranted.
Representatives for both sides declined additional comment beyond the court filings. Legal counsel for the AG’s office includes May Che and Cassandra Baker, while Tagle and Tagle Investments LLC are represented by Alex K. Larkin, Alex J. Meyer, and Mark D. Kimball of MDK Law.
The case is officially listed as Washington v. Tagle Investments LLC et al., case number 25-2-26877-2, pending in the King County Superior Court. The outcome of this case may have wider implications for how state agencies handle public statements in employment litigation and the scope of defamation claims in high-profile wage theft disputes, highlighting the tension between regulatory enforcement and business reputation in Washington State.
