A Yolo County jury has delivered a stinging verdict against Yolo Food Bank, finding the nonprofit liable in a wrongful-termination case and awarding about $3 million to former executive director Michael Bisch. Jurors sided with Bisch on claims of wrongful termination against public policy, whistleblower retaliation and breach of contract, and they also found support for defamation claims. The decision caps a closely watched trial that has pulled back the curtain on governance at one of the county’s most visible anti-hunger organizations.
As reported by the Sacramento Business Journal, jurors returned their verdict on Thursday after weighing testimony and documents presented at trial. The outlet reports that the jury split liability across Yolo Food Bank and certain individual defendants and divided damages across several legal claims.
How The Money Was Tallied
In the liability phase, jurors awarded roughly $1,041,667 for wrongful termination, $1,051,667 for whistleblower retaliation and $666,667 for breach of contract, with additional defamation damages that brought the total to about $3 million, according to reporting by the Davis Vanguard. Testimony included accounts from former staff members and internal documents that Bisch’s side said showed a coordinated effort to undermine his leadership ahead of his May 2022 firing.
Plaintiff's Team Says The Verdict Clears His Name
Bisch’s lead counsel cast the outcome as a full-throated endorsement of his tenure. In a statement released through Sanjiv N. Singh, APLC, the attorney said the decision “vindicates Mr. Bisch’s four years of exemplary service.” Plaintiff attorneys told reporters they believed the evidence at trial showed shifting, possibly pretextual reasons for Bisch’s termination and suggested there was outside pressure on the Yolo Food Bank board, assertions the defense has disputed.
What It Could Mean For The Food Bank
The ruling now collides with the practical reality of running a regional food bank while staring down a multimillion-dollar judgment. According to Yolo Food Bank's website, the organization distributes roughly 9.6 million pounds of food each year and serves more than 30,000 households monthly. Any effort to satisfy a large award is expected to involve donors, insurers and local government partners as the nonprofit works to keep its network of community distributions and partner agencies intact.
Legal Aftermath And Next Steps
The case, filed as Michael Bisch v. Yolo Food Bank, CV2022-1431 in Yolo County Superior Court, is not necessarily over. Local reporting notes that additional punitive-damages decisions, post-trial motions or appeals could still change the final amount Bisch ultimately receives. The Sacramento Business Journal also reports that Yolo Food Bank did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the verdict.
