A Santa Clara resident has taken legal action against a major retail corporation, alleging racial profiling and discrimination at one of its locations. Zaki A. Jones filed a complaint on December 31, 2025, in the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Clara against Costco Wholesale Corporation and an employee identified as Maria Doe.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on February 15, 2024, when Jones visited a Costco warehouse in Sunnyvale, California. According to the complaint, Jones was using the self-checkout area when Maria Doe, an employee of Costco, repeatedly approached him. She directed him to use a cashier line instead and questioned whether he had scanned all items in his cart. Despite Jones’s attempts to complete his transaction without interference, Doe continued her scrutiny and questioning. The complaint highlights that other customers using self-checkout were not subjected to similar treatment.
Jones perceived this conduct as racial profiling, noting that no stated policy or rule justified such actions by Doe. After completing his transaction, Jones immediately reported the incident to Costco management but received no indication that he had violated any store policy. The following day, a manager contacted him to acknowledge his concerns and confirmed there was no requirement for him to use a cashier line.
The lawsuit accuses Costco and its employee of violating the Unruh Civil Rights Act by denying Jones full and equal enjoyment of services based on race. It claims that Costco is liable for Doe’s actions under the doctrine of respondeat superior since she acted within her employment scope. As a result of this alleged discrimination, Jones experienced humiliation, emotional distress, anxiety, and now avoids returning to the Sunnyvale location due to fear of repeated discriminatory treatment.
Jones seeks several forms of relief from the court: statutory damages under Civil Code section 52 with a minimum amount of $4,000; general and special damages for emotional distress exceeding $50,000; punitive damages aimed at punishing and deterring unlawful conduct; injunctive relief prohibiting discriminatory practices; costs incurred during litigation; and any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing himself in this matter (In Pro Per), Zaki A. Jones is seeking justice through legal channels against what he perceives as unfair treatment at a public business establishment. The case has been assigned Case No.: 25 Cy¥48 3 £69 in front of judges yet unnamed.
Source: 25CV483469_Zaki_Jones_v_Costo_Wholesale_Complaint_County_Santa_Clara_California.pdf
