A Starbucks employee filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit against the company Aug. 7 alleging gender violence, assault and battery against her at the store's University Avenue location in Palo Alto…The suit alleges that store manager Ted de La Cruz began making offensive comments and engaged in inappropriate behavior shortly after the plaintiff began working there in 2005…He allegedly acted inappropriately toward several other employees as well, who were penalized after complaining, the suit alleges…Starbucks spokeswoman Jaime Riley said the company takes the allegations very seriously…The company could not comment on the lawsuit since it is active.