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Starbucks pays $120,000 to settle racial discrimination lawsuit
Seattle Times ^ | 23 June 09 | Melissa Allison

Posted on 07/06/2009 5:53:50 PM PDT by Drew68

Starbucks agreed in April to pay a former lead network engineer in Seattle $120,000 plus a mediator's fee to settle a lawsuit that alleges racial discrimination and retaliation "so severe that it required him to take a medical leave of absence."

Victor Washington of Shoreline, who is African-American and worked for Starbucks from September 2006 until May 2008, alleges in the July 2008 lawsuit that a white co-worker made racist comments to him such as repeatedly telling him to "fetch" the co-worker's umbrella and tie his shoes for him. In the lawsuit, Washington says he complained to his supervisor and to Starbucks' human resources department, and that they took no action, although the supervisor increased his workload and gave him undesirable assignments.

Starbucks said in a written statement that it investigated Washington's allegations while he worked there and found them without merit, and that it settled the case to avoid further legal costs.

The company wrote Washington a check for $120,000, which it says in a court filing was "compensation for emotional distress and attorneys' fees." But Washington has not cashed it, and Starbucks last week asked the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington to enforce the settlement.

In a telephone interview, Washington said he plans to dispute the amount of the settlement agreement, which he thinks should be $140,000.

"I think they got out extremely cheap as it was," he said. "The only reason I settled was because of issues with my former lawyer."

Washington's former lawyer, Joyce Thompson of Frank Freed Subit & Thomas in Seattle, did not return phone calls. She and attorney Jillian Cutler have asked the court to tell Starbucks to cancel its outstanding check to Washington and cut two separate checks...

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: discrimination; fetchfreemoney; lawsuit; starbucks
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To: truthguy

For a “truth” guy you are adept at dodging the question! What would be your reaction if Starbucks scorched earth and lost? Boycott? Huh???


41 posted on 07/06/2009 7:25:17 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck
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To: truthguy

Also you must confess your own Machiavellian streak if you witnessed this wrongdoing against others and did nothing.


42 posted on 07/06/2009 7:27:09 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck
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To: Doe Eyes
Please say Yo, which can be followed by "what's up".

Let's not be indelicate, now, shall we? I'm sure what you meant was something more like:

"WHAZAAAAAPPP..!!!"

And then bulging ones eyes out, with, per chance, a crotch-grab would also suffice.

43 posted on 07/06/2009 7:49:08 PM PDT by gaijin
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To: Drew68

Victor Washington of Shoreline, who is African-American and worked for Starbucks from September 2006 until May 2008, alleges in the July 2008 lawsuit that a white co-worker made racist comments to him such as repeatedly telling him to “fetch” the co-worker’s umbrella and tie his shoes for him. In the lawsuit,

What ever happen to telling the co-worker to “f-off”? The coworker was not the boss and should have picked up their own unbrella and tie his shoes. Oh if it was me, I would have tied the shoes alright and he/she would never would have had blood flow again.


44 posted on 07/06/2009 8:21:36 PM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: napscoordinator

Because sometimes, those jobs are the only things those people have. I can see why he stuck with that job for so long. I was in a position similar to the guy.

Truth be told, not every race based lawsuit is a shakedown. I had a friend who was just like this. Every effing joke was a stupid race joke. I rolled with the punches because I naturally have a thick skin. I just believed words were words. But I truly saw his contempt for me when I loaned him money and he didn’t pay me back, and when he wanted to hit me up for some more money, I refused and called me the N word .

Oh, and if you’re wondering what his political affiliation is, he’s a Democrat. Go figure. I don’t talk to him anymore, just because he’s a loser that likes to drink and has no idea how to manage money. He depended on me all the time for money. Now he’s leeching off of Uncle Sam deluding himself into thinking he’s being patriotic by serving in the military. The guy’s not a patriot, he’s a LaRouchian Democrat looking for a quick meal ticket, much like other Democrats.

Simply put, there are pieces of shit in the world, and it sounds as though the managers were total loser pricks (BTW, most people who believe in that white power Bravo Sierra are the type that would work at Starbucks).

I know if any manager or employer tried that with me, he’d quickly find out what my other job is. Assistant taekwondo instructor. The pimps and thugs in my neighborhood also found out what my other job is. I was practicing in my yard today :-D


45 posted on 07/06/2009 10:10:06 PM PDT by TypeZoNegative (Pro life & Vegan because I respect all life, Republican because our enemies don't respect ours.)
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To: TypeZoNegative
Actually...I wasn't wondering what his politics were. I already knew. lol

I'm a woman and I'm quite familiar with the Democrat attitude that the party OWNS minorities.

46 posted on 07/06/2009 11:15:37 PM PDT by TNdandelion (This should be fun.)
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To: Drew68

Good thing nobody asked him for Black Coffee.


47 posted on 07/06/2009 11:23:04 PM PDT by MaxMax (America's population is 304-Million. Obama must punish America for the other 4.7 Billion)
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