Black customers file $100 million civil rights lawsuit against Cracker Barrel restaurants

AP ^ | 12-13-01 | Christopher Newton

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Twenty-one people filed a $100 million federal lawsuit against Cracker Barrel restaurants Thursday, accusing the nationwide chain of widespread racism, from segregating black customers in the smoking section to denying them service.

It was the largest civil rights lawsuit against a restaurant chain since Denny's settled a $46 million discrimination lawsuit in 1994.

[gcraig]

Those people? What people do you mean exactly? Black people?

My God, you sure are quick to jump on the racial pretense thing too, huh? I have no discrimination in my blood. I'll copy in to you what I already responded to another on this thread:

Yup. Those morons who don't know how to feed their kids and who file frivolous law suits. Oh, they are black? I don't notice race, so don't even think about going in a direction where you are going to try to call me a racist. I defend AMERICA!

[Smogger]

I assume by 'discriminated against white customers' you meant 'discriminated against black customers' and by 'testify' you mean 'lie.'

I meant black customers of course.

Fortunately, the white customers never found out about it, or some racist might have come back to the restaurant and shot every 'muther' in the place

Any customer that has discovers he has been served food from the garbage can of a restaraunt has my approval to torch the place with the owners in it.

[wardaddy]

Sorry chap but I have only had private (Catholic) school education. You know? One that hopefully teaches morality and tolerance. Concepts your not familiar with.

your=you're or you are I assume. You must be pretty well stuffed on egalitarianism and they neverending thirst for self virtue that comes with it eh sport?

[Timesink]

In one such case, Chandra Harmon, a resident of Smyrna, Ga., says she arrived at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Chattanooga, Tenn., at 9:48 p.m. and was told by a server that the restaurant was about to close. At 10 p.m., Harmon watched as four white men were allowed into the restaurant. Through the window, she saw them eating and drinking.

1) This is completely unprovable.

2) Something like this did happen once to me, back in 1987. I went to a Cracker Barrel right at closing time, and I was seated and had a light meal even as others were being turned away. You know why? Because I was dating one of the waitresses and was there to pick her up. I had to have my third choice of entree too, because they'd already ran out of my top two choices for the night.

[Smogger]

They watch 'em like hawks.

Well gee whiz.. How would you know? Why do they watch them like hawks? Moreover, why would you care unless you planning to make racist remarks?

Nor do they routinely can duplicate threads.

B.S. They can duplicate threads all the time.

I've never FReepmailed a moderator to ask anything. How'd you know you could do that?

Well gee.. I've gotten FReepmail before, and I know how to navigae a website. Must be that PRIVATE school education.

[Silly]

Anyone who has eaten at a Cracker Barrel restaurant is, by definition, a victim.

[womanvet]

Can't decide if I should bump for later reading, or just a fast comment--

I've been eating at Cracker Barrel back when I had to drive to GA or TN just for breakfast. I have never been seated promptly, because there is always a line. That is one reason for the gift shop inside, and the rockers outside -- to keep you busy while you wait.

Sounds like some law firms go through registers looking for restaurants with large insurance policies.

[wardaddy]

Any customer that has discovers he has been served food from the garbage can of a restaraunt has my approval to torch the place with the owners in it

Sure glad that in your wee little race-baiting mind that you're not trying to inflame anyone on this thread.

Who me??????? Smogger the Racism Avenger...shucks it's all in the spirit of righting the wrongs of the nasty world and making myself feel damn good about it.

God bless you Smogger....little peeps outta folks like you on this forum help keep my fires burning.

Thanks really.

[Utopia]

I'm black and have eaten at Cracker Barrel restaurants in the Midwest- never a problem, good service, good food. If I don't like the place I don't go back- it's that simple.
Bless your heart for your comments.

[JoeSchem]

Any customer that has discovers he has been served food from the garbage can of a restaraunt has my approval to torch the place with the owners in it.

You failed to address the plausibility question: if it is established restaurant policy to feed blacks older food, why not just leave the food on the counter? That's a lot easier than having to stoop over the garbage can and scoop it out, and then place it back on the counter.

Do the whites whose food Andrew Young spat on have your approval to 'torch' Andrew Young? If so, you're scaring me.

[Smogger]

Sure glad that in your wee little race-baiting mind that you're not trying to inflame anyone on this thread

No.. Your right.. People served garbage outta ask for seconds.

If the intention was to inflame folks I would have said:

Any black customer that has discovers he has been served food from the garbage can of a restaraunt has my approval to torch the place with the white owners in it

However, in my statement it doesn't matter what color the people serving and eating the garbage are. I'm sure with your use of big words like egalitarianism you can grasp the concept.

[Smogger]

You failed to address the plausibility question: if it is established restaurant policy to feed blacks older food, why not just leave the food on the counter? That's a lot easier than having to stoop over the garbage can and scoop it out, and then place it back on the counter.

Hell! I dunno.. I first heard the comment on the radio this morning driving to work and it's not in the AP article. I'll look for another article where it mentions the garbage feeding. I think most sane people would agree that if it can be proved employees were feeding people garbage then 100 million is cheap.

[1Old Pro]

, I prefer the Greek diners

Me too

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Bush has cut funding to these Special Interest groups so the NAACraP is having to find other means of getting money.

Suing whitey is one of them.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Thoughts?

[1Old Pro]

At a Republican dinner.....

I suggest you mention the problem with those who organize your dinner events.

[cajun-jack]

my daughter worked as a waitress at the cracker barrell here in west monroe, La. and i know that isn't the case here...but why would "sensitive" black folk want to patronize any establishment called "cracker" barrell??? makes you wanna go "hmmmmmmmm" doesn't it?? could be cause they didn't have no crackers in the barrell??

[A CA Guy]

I've eaten at cracker barrel before and that would be the extent of any connection I ever had. They are a good palce to eat, but I am not trusting of customers who are perhaps very poor and needy to start that might be claiming the company are run by racist crackers!

The race card without cause should not be able to get a pay off!

[wardaddy]

Well....we've played long enough. I think I do remember you as being sensitive to Israel on other threads....it's nice finding a redeeming quality in someone with whom I have polarized views on this particular social/legal issue.

Have a nice Christmas...see ya 'round!

[bluefish]

What would stop the suits like this is just this, if applied appropriately. Yes, a defendant does not have to prove innocence (although they do moreso than in a criminal case unfortunately). However, if they do prove innocence like Denny's has done with the taps, there should be extremely SEVERE criminal penalties for attempted extortion immediately filed against the plaintiff. The plaintiff, now a criminal defendant, will get all the protection the law provides. In fact, they will get more than their original intended extortion victim did as a civil suit defendant.