Discrimination lawsuit filed against Georgia-based Waffle House

GASTONIA, N.C. - Four people have sued a Waffle House restaurant in federal court, accusing employees and security of racial discrimination and mistreatment. <br> <br> A federal civil rights lawsuit filed Tuesday by the four allege the discrimination at a Waffle House in Gastonia in July 2000. <br> <br> Charlotte lawyer Henderson Hill has filed similar lawsuits in the past year alleging discrimination at Waffle Houses in Charlotte and Monroe. <br> <br> ``The question these citizens raise is whether their treatment reflects a discriminatory culture maintained by the Waffle House franchise,&#39;&#39; Hill said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit. ``It does appear to reflect more than the misconduct of a single employee.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Waffle House officials said in a statement Tuesday that neither it nor the owner of the Gastonia franchise, Georgia-based Hillcrest Foods, had heard of the alleged incidents until Tuesday. <br> <br> ``We take all our customers and complaints seriously because it is our goal to serve all customers from all races and backgrounds,&#39;&#39; the statement said. ``We have a commitment to friendly service and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The lawsuit alleges the discrimination occured after midnight July 15, 2000 at the Waffle House on Chester Street in Gastonia. <br> <br> Kenneth Parker of Charlotte says he was seated at the counter when a white waitress sprayed him with water but didn&#39;t offer him a towel or apologize. Parker said the waitress called him a ``monkey&#39;&#39; when he asked for an apology. <br> <br> He had been waiting 35 minutes to order when another black customer, Eddie Brown, sat next to Parker, the lawsuit says. Two white couples sat down and were served first even though Brown and Parker had waited longer, the lawsuit says. <br> <br> Once Brown got his food, the lawsuit states, the waitress spilled his coffee on him, threw a coffee cup lid at him and tossed his bag of food on his lap, the lawsuit says. When Brown asked for ketchup and plastic utensils, she threw them at him, the lawsuit says. <br> <br> Two women, Audrey Carroll and Michelle Byers, arrived at the restaurant, but a security guard told them they couldn&#39;t enter even though they saw empty seats through the restaurant&#39;s windows, the lawsuit says. A white customer was allowed to walk in later even after Carroll had tried again to enter, according to the lawsuit. <br> <br> Also named in the lawsuit was Charlotte-based Purser Security and Patrol Services Inc., which provides security for the Gastonia Waffle House.