Discrimination Suit Names Red Onion in Santa Ana

Samuel Crawford, 25, a black who alleged last month that he was “humiliated and disgusted” when he was turned away from the Santa Ana Red Onion, has filed a $2-million racial discrimination lawsuit against the restaurant chain.

The suit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, alleges that Crawford’s civil rights were violated by an “ongoing and continuing policy . . . to deny entry by members of racial minorities.”

As reported in The Times last month, Crawford, who lives in Santa Ana and works as a car salesman in Irvine, decided to speak out after he was turned away from the restaurant for the third time in two months. On March 6, Crawford apparently presented his tattered California driver license to the door host at the club but was told that it was mutilated and therefore unsuitable identification.

Crawford then located a Santa Ana policeman who, after running a Department of Motor Vehicles’ check on his license, told the door host that Crawford’s license was legitimate and that he was over 21.

Crawford was still refused entry.

Ralph Saltsman, attorney for the restaurant, declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday, saying that he had not had a chance to discuss it with his client, Red Onion President Ron Newman.

Newman owns the Carson-based chain of 14 Red Onion restaurants located throughout Southern California.

The state Department of Fair Employment and Housing has acknowledged that it is looking into dozens of complaints alleging racial discrimination at the Red Onion and claims by some former and current employees that the club tries to bar minorities.

On Sunday, Red Onion bar manager Martin Reichman, referring to the alleged discriminatory practices, told The Times that he was tired of “cleaning up the crowd,” and teaching others how to do it. “It just kind of started to eat on me, Reichman, 24, said. “I had been doing it a long time and wasn’t really into it, but I got into it for the job and it was good money. It got a little too weird. I’m not into being that much of a creep.”

Crawford’s attorney, Michael Kenny, said Tuesday that he will seek an immediate cease and desist order and will try to get the Red Onion to stipulate that “this practice will be terminated immediately.”