A Washington D.C. bar has been ordered to pay $687,000 in damages stemming from a racial discrimination lawsuit.
According to NBC Washington, sports bar Redline
will pay the sum to an
African-American woman who accused the establishment of discriminating against her.
Briggitta Hardin was hired in 2010 and claimed in a lawsuit that she was fired on her first day of work because she’s black.
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of Hardin and against Redline owner Mick Dadlani.
Hardin, a Howard University student at the time, claims she met with Dadlani when she arrived for her first shift as a bartender, but Dadlani refused to talk to her or even shake her hand.
“Ms. Hardin introduced herself and extended her hand to greet Dadlani, but Dadlani refused to touch her hand,” the complaint read, according to the Washingtonian. “Instead, Dadlani looked Ms. Hardin up and down with visible disgust and walked away, appearing angered by her presence.”
Not even an hour later, Hardin was informed that her services were no longer needed.
“Testimony from former managers and employees revealed that Dadlani expressed a preference for hiring white, blonde women for bartending positions, and ignored management’s repeated objections that such hiring restrictions are illegal,” Hardin’s counsel alleged.
It was also revealed that Dadlani once closed the bar instead of serving a group of African-Americans who’d gathered to watch an NBA game.
“This case involved not only significant evidence from Ms. Hardin but also significant evidence from other people who have no stake at all,” Hardin’s attorney, Megan Cacace, concluded. “A lot of testimony that confirmed defendant’s statements had happened.”
A federal jury awarded Hardin $175,000 in compensatory damages and $512,000 in punitive damages.
Source: Naturallymoi