[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Harrison Bergeron]

"How can a business defend against something like this?"

One way, and one way only. Remember when Bob Barr was accused of uttering a racial slur by a black female airport guard last year before the elections? The only thing that got him off was having a witness "of color" to vouch that the accuser was lying. Neither Barr's word, nor the word of white witnesses, was enough to clear his name.

[Timesink]

How can a business defend against something like this?

It's quite simple: Go Scientologist on their asses. Get the meanest lawyers they can find, and sue sue sue sue sue sue everyone involved in launching the lawsuit for every little minor thing they can think of. And sue them as individuals, until they are destroyed.

The simple and sad reality is that the courts themselves are the ONLY recourse we have against such misuse of, well, the courts. It's just that most people and organizations are unwilling to truly fight back. They'll "defend themselves," but they won't FIGHT BACK.

[ThomasMore]

This smacks of Jesse Jackass and PUSH! Somebody needs to give that guy a good a$$ whoopin'. If anyone needs to be investigated its Jesse the extortionist!

[alnick]

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

[databoss]

The food is overcooked and the service sucks, they (the complaintants) should be grateful that they can't get seated the staff is doing them a favor...