ORANGE, Ohio — A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit filed by more than two dozen people claiming they were racially discriminated against while dining at the Bahama Breeze restaurant in Orange Village last year.
In a statement filed by The Chandra Law Firm LLC, representing the plaintiffs, it is noted that "the matter has been resolved to the parties’ satisfaction through a settlement that includes financial considerations as well as enhancements to Bahama Breeze’s existing diversity-training curriculum."
The suit claims “that on June 19, 2018, restaurant managers falsely reported to police that a party of African-Americans was threatening to leave without paying checks. When police arrived, the party was accosted and required to show receipts to leave the private party area."
Bahama Breeze fired a manager involved with the alleged incident.
Most of the 26 plaintiffs are members of the Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Last year's incident was not the first time the restaurant has been accused of racial harassment. In 2009, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced a settlement involving 37 black workers, who claimed, their managers repeatedly used racial slurs and denied them breaks.
The company paid more than a million dollars and was ordered to provide anti-discrimination and diversity training to staff.