Bardstown Bourbon countersues fired HR exec for disclosures in whistleblower suit
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bardstown Bourbon sues ex‑HR VP for breaching nondisclosure, seeks injunction.
- Sanders alleges gender bias, racism, transphobia, safety violations; defendants deny.
- Judge sealed original complaint, allowed redacted amended filing; next motion hour May 6.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. has filed a counterclaim against a former human resources vice president, suing her for breach of contract, and is seeking an injunction to stop more “unlawful disclosures of BBC’s confidential information.”
On Feb. 13, fired HR VP Sylvia Sanders filed a discrimination complaint against the distillery, its owner Pritzker Private Capital and several executives, including PPC operating partner Christian Brickman; Mark Erwin, CEO of umbrella group Lofted Spirits; and BBC CEO Peter Marino.
Sanders alleges a toxic culture and pattern of gender bias that affected at least half a dozen female executives who were either fired or ousted under Erwin. She also made claims of wide-ranging allegations of sexism, racism, transphobia, falsified safety records, state alcohol violations and more.
In a legal response filed late March 20, the company denied all the allegations and asked to have the case dismissed. BBC also countersued Sanders, alleging breach of contract.
“Sanders’ needless and reckless disclosure of BBC’s confidential information ... including the identities of employees involved, without BBC’s authorization or consent constitutes a breach of contract,” the counterclaim reads.
The company is seeking damages, as well as an injunction to prevent Sanders “from any further breaches of” non-disclosure agreements she signed when she worked there.
According to the filing, the company said Sanders forwarded BBC records to an outside email address then deleted the original record from the BBC server.
The case is scheduled for 9 a.m. motion hearing May 6 with Nelson Circuit Judge Charles C. Simms III.
“This counterclaim is simply the latest example of the defendants’ ongoing retaliation and intimidation against Ms. Sanders. Rather than address the serious allegations of discrimination and unlawful conduct, they have chosen to escalate their efforts to silence her. The claims are baseless, and they rely on a purported ‘contract’ whose applicability, validity, and authenticity are very much in question,” said James M. Morris, attorney for Sanders, in a statement. “Ms. Sanders will not be deterred from pursuing accountability and justice for herself, and for the countless women who have been the subject of the defendants’ ongoing tactics.”
A spokesperson for Bardstown Bourbon Company and Lofted Spirits did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On March 17, the judge in Nelson Circuit Court denied BBC’s motion to strike Sanders’ complaint, but did agree in a compromise move to seal the original complaint and allow her to file an amended one redacting the names of those who are not being sued. The redacted complaint was filed Friday.
Erwin and Marino also filed motions to dismiss and denied the allegations in Sanders’ lawsuit. Last week PPC and Brickman also filed motions to dismiss the complaint against them, alleging Sanders was not a PPC employee.
Pritzker Capital is owned by the prominent wealthy real estate family that includes Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a possible contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. Gov. Pritzker is not actively involved in the company.
This story was originally published March 23, 2026 at 3:12 PM.
