When Robert Garza met with a supervisor at Campbell Soup Company, he thought he was going to get into a standard salary discussion. Instead, he sat through what he said was an hour-long tirade that left him feeling sick.
Garza told Local 4 News that he sensed “something was off with Martin,” who is the vice president and chief information security officer at the food company (1).
What Garza heard and recorded would ultimately cost him his job. Now the Monroe, Michigan resident is suing Campbell’s and claims he was fired in retaliation for trying to do the right thing.
Garza began working remotely as a security analyst at Campbell’s Camden, New Jersey headquarters in September 2024. Later that year, he met Bally at a restaurant to discuss his compensation. But the conversation quickly went off course.
According to Garza’s lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court (2), Bally engaged in what the complaint describes as a “disgusting” rumor about the company’s products and employees. In the recording, which lasted more than an hour and 15 minutes, Bally allegedly made racist remarks about his Indian co-workers and Campbell made derogatory comments about his customers.
“We have a st-t for poor people. Who buys our st-t? I barely buy Campbell’s anymore. It’s not healthy anymore because I know what’s in it,” Bally allegedly said in the recording. “Bioengineered meat; I don’t want to eat a piece of chicken that came out of a 3D printer.”
The rumor didn’t end there. Bally made several derogatory comments about Indian employees, calling them “stupid” and saying they “couldn’t think for themselves,” according to the lawsuit.
Garza also claims Bally admitted that he regularly came to work high on marijuana edibles.
“He has no filter,” Garza said. “He thinks he’s a C-level executive at a Fortune 500 company and that because he’s an executive, he can do anything he wants.”
At first, Garza kept the recording to himself. He said he felt “completely disgusted” after the meeting and needed time to digest what he had heard. But in January 2025, he decided he could not remain silent.
He went directly to his supervisor, J.D. Aupperle, to report Bally’s behavior, particularly racist comments about co-workers.
“He was really defending other people,” said Garza’s attorney, Zachary Runyan. “He went to his boss and said, ‘Martin is saying this about our Indian co-workers, he’s saying this about the people who buy our food, who keep our company open, and I don’t think that should be allowed.'”
Twenty days later, Garza was caught off guard. He was fired on January 30, 2025.
“The response to Robert defending other people was that he was fired, which is ridiculous,” Runyan said.
Garza said the firing was particularly shocking because Bally had praised his work performance at the same December meeting. According to Runyan, Garza never received any disciplinary action or letter. “He had never received any disciplinary action, they had never ticketed him for his job performance,” Runyan said.
Garza said he did not receive any follow-up from Human Resources or anyone at Campbell’s. There is no investigation. No explanation. Just a termination.
It took him 10 months to find another job.
Trend: Warren Buffett used 8 simple money rules to turn $9,800 into a stunning $150 Billion — start using them today to get rich (and then stay rich)
The lawsuit accuses Campbell Soup Company of maintaining a racially hostile work environment and retaliating against Garza for voicing her concerns. The company names Bally and Aupperle as defendants. Garza is particularly frustrated with the disconnect between Campbell’s public image and how he is treated.
“They have a motto: ‘Here at Campbell’s we treat you like family; come work for us,'” he said. “‘We treat our employees like family.’ That’s not the case.”
Campbell Soup Company released a statement Thursday evening, saying, “The comments on the record, if true, are unacceptable. They do not reflect our values or the culture of our company. We are actively investigating this matter.”
But for Garza, this reaction comes too little, too late. He calls the company’s handling of the situation “simply awful.”
If you witness workplace misconduct (discrimination, harassment, or something else that violates company policy), here are some steps you can take:
Document everything. Keep detailed records of what happened, when and who was involved. If your state allows recording of unilateral consent, this can be strong evidence (3).
Report through appropriate channels. Go to HR or use your company’s ethics hotline. Submit your complaint in writing so that there is a record (4).
Know your rights. Federal law protects employees from retaliation when they report discrimination or harassment. If you are fired or demoted after making a complaint, you may take legal action.
Consult an employment lawyer. If you believe you have been retaliated against, contact an attorney who specializes in employment law. Many offer free consultations.
**Consider outside agencies. **The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigates discrimination complaints. You usually have 180 days to make a payment (5).
For Garza, standing up felt like the only option; Even if it costs everything. Now he hopes the legal system will prove he made the right choice.
We rely only on vetted sources and reliable third-party reports. For details, see editorial ethics and guidelines.
Detroit Local 4 News (1); Hukuk.com (2) Barrett and Farahany (3); U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (4); EOC (5)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without any warranty.
