Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Michigan

I stopped by the Starbucks currently located in the Kroger in Birmingham Michigan, I ordered the strawberry smoothie and my friend ordered a chai tea latte. The cashier started right off the bat giving me a hard time about how she already closed down the ice station and really didn't want to make my drink. It took her some time , but she finally made it. My friend asked if they were hiring , and she said " well my manager only hires black people, she does not like hiring white people" pointing towards me. Already at this point I felt discriminated against. I did not say anything to her about it. We then were about to go and check out our items that we just grabbed and she said that " she can ring us up at her register" and then she pointed at me and said" oh your white, you don't have to worry about anything, it's not like your black where, if they catch you they will tackle you, your white so you can just walk out the store". At this point my friend said okay that is a little racist to me . I feel so ashamed at the service that she provided for me just because of my race. I filed a complaint with the department of civil rights and the eeoc. Can I sue ?


Asked on 3/15/13, 2:23 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Timothy Klisz Klisz Law Office, PLLC

You can, but is it worth the cost? I handled something very similar a decade ago against a McDonalds. We settled the day of trial, but I probably wouldn't take it on again. Others may differ, but the damages are usually hard to justify.

Certainly complain all the way up the ladder at Starbucks.

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Answered on 3/16/13, 3:23 am


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