Not a forensics expert, but this being a “to go” order sometimes those merit a tip, sometimes it’s handled in a way that does not suggest a tip.
When I only deal with the cashier or there is no service meriting a tip (like fast food) I make a point of drawing a line through the “tip” space, and writing in the total.
Just saying sometimes on a take out order there is no reason for a tip as it wouldn’t go to anyone who prepared the order.
I could see, if they had ordered and waited so long that they had to take their food to go, that they might want to show their disapproval by not leaving a tip.
If I really thought the waitress was to blame for a late meal, I might go so far as to tip them 10%, and I would have told them they were too slow. I’ve never blown off a tip entirely. but understand why someone might in this instance.
None of the pictures I’ve seen of the receipt have the full word, everybody has been blanking it out. But it should be easy, if he wanted to sue, to get a handwriting expert to make a judgment.
If I were him, and I was innocent, I would send a notice to the restaurant of intent to sue for the cost of an expert, and enough money to advertise the results so that he doesn’t get Trayvon’d.