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

AP ^ | 12-13-01 | Christopher Newton

[francisandbeans]

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.

Let's do the math...

$30 million for the lawyers.
$3.3 million for each of the defendants.

I wish I could get 3.3 million for every instance of perceived bad service I ever had. I figure I'm owed 6.27 billion...who is gonna pony that up?

[Huck]

Sometimes there is a wait

There is often a wait, but that's why they have the giftshop. It's fun to browse around, but as the other poster said, all the stuff-these are my words-is very Norman Rockwell-like, from the 40s and 50s, and maybe that made CB a target to the shakedown folks. I like sitting by the fireplace and getting a side sampler. Mmm mmm good. In fact, in response to this story, I think I will eat breakfast there tomorrow. And Saturday (oo boy, political activism is tough, but I think I can handle it).

[GuillermoX]

Sheesh. If you don't like the service at a restaurant, don't go there.

I'm of the opinion that if an owner of an establishment doesn't want certain customers patronizing them, they should have the right to deny them service, whether they are black, white, mexican or what.

[Clemenza]

Actually, the Denny's in a Cuban neighborhood in Miami that was accused of discriminating against balcks had the sense to have a camera near the entrance, proving that blacks waited as long as those for other races. As a result, THAT case was thrown out of court.

Denny's is awful. Cracker Barrel is tolerable. Personally, I prefer the Greek diners in the northeast of Friendly's, neither of which exist in South Florida.

[aomagrat]

I ate at a Cracker Barrel once... Once. Just a spoon full of grits, two tiny eggs, and two small strips of burned bacon. I'll take my business to Waffle House anyday. Much better food, in bigger portions, for a lot less money.

[RicocheT]

Look, my family and I have had indifferent service, poorly prepared food and other disagreeable experiences in restaurants over the years. We are not a minority family and our remedy is to not eat there again. We don't send food back and we rarely complain as life is better lived by moving on. Part of my attitude is knowing it's tough for any restaurant to do quality work every day. Fish goes bad and waitresses fail to show.

I think it is the pot of gold here that moves these lawsuites. The lawfirms that do these suits get huge fees and the fees are on top of the alleged damages. The named plaintiffs get a few bucks, but the lawyers get millions.

If you or anyone you know ever gets on a jury on one of these cases, don't be so quick to blame the restaurant chain. Restaurants have trouble getting good help and bad service happens.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yes, and blacks want in on the action.

[Slyfox]

Regarding the old Denny's lawsuit. A friend of mine was doing contract work in DC, where the suit was based, and happened to eat at the very same Denny's. That particular restaurant had some waiteresses who worked there who treated EVERYONE badly, not just black folks. There was no "discrimination", just lousy and ill-mannered waiteresses.

Jesse Jackson, by his example, has really taught others how to do business,eh. It's called 'deep-pocket extortion'.

[wattsmag2]

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.

[gridlock]

Cracker Barrel isn't necessarily targeted because of their decor. They are targeted because they operate a big and successful business. It is impossible for a large company operating 350 outlets to defend themselves against this sort of thing. If you have 10,000 employees spread out over the entire US, some bad things are going to happen. There will be a few instances of outrageous behaviour, even in the most tightly controlled corporate environment, simply because outrageous behaviour is part of the human condition.

From what I have seen of Cracker Barrel, they are an extremely tightly controlled operation. I go to various outlets when I am on the road, and the uniformity between restaurants and between each visit is downright amazing. If you look around, you wouldn't know if you were in Mobile, Alabama or Binghamton, New York. Never have I seen any customer treated badly or singled out. These restaurants are as standardized and controlled as humanly possible, but that is still not enough to eliminate each and every episode of outrageous behaviour.

Cracker Barrel should be allowed to defend itself by showing that it has made a good faith effort to maintain non-discriminatory practices and consistency of service. That should be sufficient defense against this sort of lawsuit.

[nagdt]

Though I don't approve of discrimination (unless you look like Osama) I can't believe this Chandra lady's story. If a restaraunt is due to close in 10 minutes, (her story) chances are slim to none that any employee, cook or hostess is going to want to stay open. The kitchen is already clean or being cleaned for closing, the wheels don't like to back up once the closing process has begun. What probably happened is she walked up to the door at 2 minutes til 10. I've been to this particular Cracker Barrell and I can't imagine racial problems like this in the area. Chattanooga has a large black population and the backlash would be a nightmare.

[mapleleafrag]

hmmm. at olive garden there is up to an hour wait to get in where we live (upstate ny). apparently if i were a different persuasion, i could sue. . . although i would never dream of such a thing.

[southern rock]

I'm white, and I am offended by the name of this restaurant. I am filing a $100 million civil rights lawsuit against Cracker Barrel restaurants for having an offensive name. So there!

[Phantom Lord]

These scumbags did the same thing to Denny's and other places and will continue to do so. A lot of those folks like to go to these places and act like hooligans.

When Denny's settled the first big "racism" lawsuit against them I understand that they starting taking measures to protect themselves from shakedowns in the future. I am going by memory here, so i could be off a little on some things. I understand that Dennys has ordered that all of their chains install cameras. From what I remember, the film from these cameras has already been used against people filing lawsuits against them. One case I remember involved a group of blacks who said they were forced to wait a long time for a table while white customers were seated promptly. Well, Dennys whipped out the tape, showed that they were seated immediatly and the suit was tossed. Another involved another group of blacks who said they were treated poorly and asked to leave. Again they went to the video tape. Showed them acting like hooligans, throwing food, and acting in a rude behavior. Another Denny's win.

Denny's became the target because the settled so quickly in an effort to avoid bad PR. Well, other saw this as a sign of weakness and went after them. And they got burned!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I think Cracker Barrel discriminates against white people by using a racial slur in their name.

[billhilly]

For at least twenty years my family has made a point of stopping at Cracker Barrels while on road trips. Most of those trips took us through Tennessee, and other southern states. Upon reflection, the appearance of blacks enjoying the good southern (soul) food was commonplace.

[Paul Atreides]

This is all a crock. I have eaten at the Cracker Barrel and it is always packed to the gills. I have seen black people who were seated promptly and treated with the utmost courtesy. Many times, when the restaurant is packed, the only places to sit are in the smoking section. The restaurant is divided off by walls of themed bric-a-brac. In the past, I had to leave the restaurant because the waiting line was too long. People are admitted on a first come, first served basis. Personally, I don't buy this story.

[billbears]

LOL!!!

[Martin Tell]

...Cracker Barrel, they are an extremely tightly controlled operation.

Agreed,and with all the publicity over the Denny's case as well as the Shoney's case (Shoney's, like CB is headquartered in Middle TN), it is extremely unlikely that CB had any sort of discrimination-promoting policy, especially after CB's run-ins with gay activists. That said, this lawsuit might still fly due to the anecdotal evidence and the help of what sounded like a disgrunteled CB employee.