Consumer Law
Black Franchise Owner Files Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against McDonald’s
New York (CNN Business)A Black McDonald’s franchise operator has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that it steered him toward less profitable restaurants in lower-income, predominantly Black neighborhoods because of his race.
Retired Major League Baseball player Herbert Washington, who currently operates 14 McDonald’s restaurants, filed the civil suit in Ohio on Tuesday. Washington’s allegations are similar to the complaints made by a group of 52 former Black franchise operators, who sued the company over alleged racial discrimination in September.
Washington, who has been operating McDonald’s franchise locations since 1980, claimed in the suit that over the years, McDonald’s made it harder for him to succeed compared to White franchise operators. He said that the company has been trying to drive him out because he flagged the alleged discrimination.
