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.

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

Where is the other half of this story? I'm betting this is a frivilous lawsuit, but am holding off judgement until I hear what Cracker Barrel has to say. I've never been witness to any kind of discrimination in their establishments.

[mafree]

I'm white and have gotten really crummy service at a couple of cracker barrels. Most however, do a good job. All have made things right on complaint.

That's the impression I've always gotten from them which is why I'll never have a problem eating at them.

[mafree]

..You don't have to be black to get rude, poor quality service..

That's fer sure. The key is to not see it as racial before you have a chance to observe and think about it.

[mafree]

A big Mafree bump!!!!!

Bump back at you!

[mafree]

.."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."

Your opinion is an honest-to-God breath of fresh air.

Thanks.

[mafree]

..Maybe this all has something to do with the title of the restaurant...cmon "Cracker Barrell"

If folks don't have enough sense to figure out that a cracker barrel holds the crackers you eat they've got the problem, not CB.

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

bump

[Neets]

Because I am so tired of hearing and seeing corporations buckling down to and giving into this extorsion, I had a feeling there was someone of some name behind this being that these folks were being represented by such a huge law firm specializing in civil-rights violations...

So first I did a google search to see what connection they had to Jessie Jackson...didn't come up with anything,,,then to Al Sharptongue,,,again nothing...so I just did a general search on the law firm itself and LOOK WHAT I FOUND....tomorrow when I have more time I will do a more extensive search. I could not post the article but here is a link to it,,, But this is interesting in and of itself.

Former African American Employees Allege Discrimination in Hiring, Firing, Pay, Promotions, and Terms and Conditions of Employment

[ChiMark]

That's how hte civil rights extortion racket works. Disgusting. Why does this garner 100M evenif it is true?

[takenoprisoner]

Good read and good story.

Now my dad and I on a trip stopped at a CB in Augusta Ga. It was about 3pm well after lunch and before supper. The place was empty as we had the no smoking dining room to ourselves less one table of four.

We sat there for 20 MINUTES!!! I swear to you no server approached us. The server was busy assisting and chatting with the folks at the only other table occupied in the room. Finally I told my dad let's go and he agreed and we walked out to go across the road to the Huddle House where we were promptly attended.

No here is the catch. We are white. The server and the table she was attending while ignoring us was black.

So I ask all of you, should my dad and I join this suit in reverse? I can verify our trip on record. I cannot verify other than by our word what occured. But my dad and I would both swear to it in a court of law as the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

[Neets]

Just you all don't get confused the link at my post #189 is about a lawsuit filed in 1999 by EMPOYEES of Cracker Barrell citing discrimination in the work place, et al. I don't have time to research the result of the lawsuit, but I am inclined to think they either lost, or WON big and are going back for more.

I will post more when I am not rushing out the door.

[mafree]

I saw a story about the customers suing on BET's news show tonight- they may not let this one rest.

[alnick]

Wouldn't the burden of proof be on the plaintiffs?

[L.N. Smithee]

Cracker Barrel will survive this even better than Denny's has because throughout the targeting by gays in the past two decades, it has never compromised on the quality of their food and service. I have never been to a Cracker Barrel, but they are good enough to consistently be ranked atop all kinds of surveys for chain restaurants. Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union, an organization that is -- when it comes to politics -- left-leaning, and they have ranked it at the top in two consecutive tests, albeit with a disclaimer about the alleged discrimination.

[Neets]

I'll be sure to continue my research on this then tomorrow. It is high time Corporations STOP kow-towing to the likes of Queeze Infumesme and his ilk for shaking them down for a few million bucks to line their coffers, because we all know they are not really interested in Civil Rights violations.

[WVNan]

Well now! This makes me angry. I worked for the Cracker Barrel for three years in the 80s in Tenn. This is a Tenn. owned company, and yes it reflects the rural early American Southern culture in it's decor and it's food. It's southern soul food to put it bluntly. Yes, as someone has said, it's a tightly run organization. There was never any tolerance for breaking "the rules" of cleanliness or service. The favorite saying was, "if you can lean, you can clean." Sure, because it is such a large organization, there will be isolated incidences of poor service because of human nature, but the quality of food and service is unmatched anywhere in a chain so large. All the food is prepared from scratch. I almost got fired one time for calling a customer "honey" (bad habit). There was never a hint of discrimination against anybody. It is laughable for anyone to suggest such a thing. BTW, the name, Cracker Barrel, comes from the old days when the rural country stores sold loose crackers from barrels. I remember that myself. I suggest that everyone go to their nearest CB and enjoy the best southern (Tennessee) cooking in the world. No canned stuff there. All cooked fresh each day. Enjoy.

[Michael2001]

This is a bunch of BS, but if I were a betting man I'd bet on these black guys getting their money. PC has certainly run amuk.

[Labyrinthos]

I have absolutely no doubt that your adventure in dining is true. But bad service should not be the grounds for a lawsuit just because the situation involved people of different races. At the very least, you should have to show that managment encouraged the behavior, otherwise we just have a nasty, inattentive teenage waitress (I'm shocked).

[Movemout]

I just love you capitalists. Your pithy evaluation heartens my expectations of this wierd world.