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.

[historian1944]

How can a business defend against something like this? There is only anecdotal evidence (and probably no "seat black customers last" memos from mgmt), and the restaurant must prove that they DIDN'T discriminate.

[kahoutek]

Lemme think out loud here........

The reverum tried shaking them down...

They told him to stuff it...

Lawsuit follows...

Ain't impossible.

[MichaelP]

I don't know how you're supposed to do business anymore. These sh_theads make up these charges and find a shyster to sue. The chain is faced with settling or ponying up big bucks to defend itself. I'd like to see some countersuits against some of the opportunists....

Mike

[Hacksaw]

How long before Cracker Barrel caves and hires PUSH as consultants? I give very little credibility to the plaintiffs. They have little to lose, and they and the attorneys will reap huge profits if they win. They can also bankrupt Cracker barrel just through protracted litigation.

It is time to stand up to these parasites, and quit settling. We also need loser pays tort reform.

[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.

[jeffyraven]

I patronized a CB restaurant for the first time ever about two months ago, and I have to say I saw this coming. I assume most or all CBs are like the ones I went to and they are very rural-themed and old-timey and harken to a bygone, white world. I knew immediately that somebody somewhere was going to be pissed about it. I don't believe for a minute that these people have been discriminated against or had any real problems, other than they perceive the restaurant's themes and motifs leave them out.

[JoeSchem]

Of course such cases ultimately become a 'he said/she said' situation, where the allegedly miffed customers have a $110 million stake in telling a little 'white' lie. The cost will be reflected in a rise in liability insurance premiums for restaurants, and from there passed on to the general consumer. And of course, restaurants will be especially sensitive to black customers in the future, ensuring that they get seated first.

In this fashion, civil rights will hearken the end of individual rights.

[Portnoy]

Wasn't Cracker Barrel involved some years ago in a law suit that said they discriminated against Gays?

[gcraig]

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.

"We had hungry children and he still refused to serve us," Harmon said of the incident in July, referring to the manager.

Why on earth would they have hungry children at 10:00 at night? What the hell is wrong with those people? Why don't they fee their kids at a reasonable time?

[SocialMeltdown]

...systematic discrimination and documents acts of alleged racism in 175 cities in 30 states.

As a white guy, I always wondered how you determine "racism". I mean, people of different races are rude and dismissive of me on a daily bases. If I were black, would I see these daily incidents as evidence of "racism"?

I believe most people see what they expect to see.

[Lewite]

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. Some of these people are not ready to asimilate into society yet.

[gcraig]

fee = feed

[wwjdn]

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.

God forbid they take their hard earned money elsewhere...If this is truly discrimination then they should sue for a couple of thousand for humiliation, but to sue for $100,000,000.00...isn't that a BIG OVERKILL?

What a waste.

[drc43]

I eat at Cracker Barrel regularly, both where I live, and when on the road. I have NEVER seen blacks treated with anything but courtesy. Sometimes there is a wait to get served or to eat, but that simply happens. It can abe a very busy place. My experiences are anecdotal, but just have never seen anything like the suit describes.

[Huck]

I assume most or all CBs are like the ones I went to and they are very rural-themed and old-timey and harken to a bygone, white world. I knew immediately that somebody somewhere was going to be pissed about it. I don't believe for a minute that these people have been discriminated against or had any real problems, other than they perceive the restaurant's themes and motifs leave them out.

They are all pretty much identical. And you are right, they are old timey. Probably not enough black-oriented chintz on the shelves. Unreal.

[gunnedah]

I have been in many of Cracker Barrel Restaraunts and have never seen this. As a matter of fact I have seen what I thought to be the opposite and grinned and bared it.The way to stop this junk is for juries not to return verdicts but the court system in this country is stacked against real justice for greedy lawyers. When will America awaken? Example look at the way lawyers are coming out of woodwork wanting to defend the terrorist.It really has come down to reverse discrimination and your government wont tell the truth.When is the last time you heard anything come from our government about Christians being persecuted and the Whites in South Africa being slaughtered?