MIAMI – An African-American woman on vacation in the state alleges a Pembroke Pines restaurant discriminated against her and her friends and family.
Fifi Clark filed a complaint on May 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division against The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants Inc., doing business as The Cheesecake Factory, alleging that the business discriminated against plaintiff and her group.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Sept. 13, 2015, she and her party waited for two hours at the defendant's restaurant and were not seated, while other parties of equal size or larger were seated before them. She also claims that the defendant asked them to pay in cash while they observed other patrons paying with debit or credit cards. The plaintiff holds The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly discriminated plaintiff when they were waiting for accommodations from the restaurant.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages of more than $75,000 plus interest and all legal fees, punitive damages, and any other relief as the court deems just. She is represented by W. John Gadd of W. John Gadd in Clearwater.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Miami Division Case number 1:16-cv-21927-DPG