McDonald’s Accused in Racial Bias Suit

Two Los Angeles families filed a lawsuit against a McDonald’s restaurant in Colton, alleging that it refused to serve them because they are black.

The McDonald’s manager told the three adults and nine children that the restaurant had had “problems with black people lately,” according to the complaint filed this week in San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Karen Garcia, a spokeswoman for McDonald’s, said she could not comment because she has not seen the lawsuit. “But I can tell you that we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind at our restaurants,” she said.

On a Saturday night last July, the families found the restaurant locked, although people were inside eating, said their attorney, Scott Fisher. They knocked, to no avail, he said. They returned to their car, but saw three white people knock and be admitted. The families returned and knocked again until they were let in, Fisher said.

The manager, Fisher said, “told them if they wanted to order food, they would have to use the drive-through window. My clients questioned why other patrons were allowed to eat in the dining area, but the manager continued to insist the restaurant was closed to them.”

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Gregory Smith, a plumber; his wife, Melinda Knight, a teacher’s aide; their children; and Chantea Jackson, a college student, and her family.