Iranian Nationals Fear Prejudice in Lawsuit Against Red Onion
When Maziar Mafi heard the news item from Tehran, he flinched.
In the Ayatollah Khomeini’s Iran, Wednesday was “Death to America” day, with thousands cheering the eighth anniversary of the takeover of the American Embassy and the start of 444 days of captivity for 52 American hostages.
“It’s the saddest thing I can possibly hear,” said Mafi, 26, a law clerk, during a break in the trial of his lawsuit claiming that the Red Onion restaurant had denied him entry because of his race.
Mafi and five other Iranian nationals living in Southern California allege that the Santa Ana restaurant violated their civil rights in the first six months of 1986. Trial of their lawsuit against Onion International Inc., which owns the restaurant, began Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court.
With American and Iranian forces clashing almost routinely in the Persian Gulf, concern over possible prejudice in the case permeated the jury selection process. The latest headline out of Tehran didn’t help.
In a brief interview, Mafi said he has applied for U.S. citizenship. He came to the United States in 1977 to pursue an education and now lives in El Toro with his parents and sister, who also have immigrated.
His law studies have given him an appreciation of individual liberties, Mafi said.
Stopped by Bouncers
“I come from a country that doesn’t have (civil rights),” Mafi testified before Judge Richard W. Luesebrink. “I know how it feels to be without those rights.”
Bouncers at the Santa Ana restaurant denied him entry on four occasions last year, Mafi testified. Three times they said his identification looked fake, and once he was excluded because he was wearing jeans, said to be a violation of the Red Onion’s dress code, Mafi testified.
Mafi said he watched two youths clad in jeans enter the restaurant immediately after he had been excluded.
As many as five former Red Onion employees will testify about the chain’s exclusionary policies, according to Richard Farnell, lawyer for Mafi. One former bouncer, Steven Tuck, will testify that he was taught to exclude minorities, Farnell told jurors.
Restaurant workers even used a code word--”Norwegians”--when referring to minority customers, Farnell said.
Charges Denied
Red Onion lawyers have denied the charges, asserting that some people were denied entry as a result of strict company policies designed to keep out underage customers.
Charges of racial discrimination against the chain were the subject of widespread publicity last year.
A total of 76 people filed complaints with the state, alleging that they were refused entrance because of race or national origin. Onion International paid total damages of $32,000 to settle those complaints, which were filed with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
In settling the claims, Onion International did not acknowledge any liability.
Procedures Revised
The chain also revised hiring and training procedures last year at its 14 Southern California restaurants. Officials said the changes would correct the “perception of a problem.”
“The files on all of our complaints are closed,” said Carol Schiller, assistant deputy director of the Fair Employment and Housing Department.
Schiller said she is not aware of any subsequent complaints.
“We have been satisfied with their implementation of the settlement. It was quite comprehensive and was designed to assure that no discrimination will be practiced in the Red Onion.”
Under the settlements, the state will monitor the restaurant through 1988.
The other five plaintiffs are Saeid Marashi, 27, of Fullerton; Behrooz Kholocci, 31, of Fullerton; Ali Reza Mirhosseini, 22, and Sayed Jalaleddin Mirrafati of Huntington Beach, and Sayed Jalil Mirrafati of Anaheim.
Farnell has asked for unspecified damages. Most of those who received money through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing received about $500 each. Last January, the plaintiffs offered to settle the lawsuit for $14,999 for each.
At least two other lawsuits alleging discrimination are on file.
