08/14/2013 // West Palm Beach , Florida, US // JusticeNewsFlash // Justice News Flash // (press release)
Savannah, Ga – A federal judge threw out claims of race discrimination that were part of a lawsuit filed against Paula Deen on Monday. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), the judge determined in the case brought forth by former restaurant manager, Lisa Jackson, who worked at a restaurant co-owned by the celebrity chef and who is white, that Jackson had no standing to sue in connection with her allegations of witnessing discrimination against black employees.
U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. is quoted by the Associated Press (AP), as stating in his ruling, “There are no allegations that defendant Hiers’s racially offensive comments were either directed toward plaintiff or made with the intent to harass her.”
Jackson worked at Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House in Savannah from 2005 to 2010. She filed a lawsuit against Deen and her brother, who primarily runs the restaurant and is co-owner, for sexual harassment and being subjected to racially offensive talk.
The claims made by Jackson have led to backlash against Deen, who was dropped by the Food Network and multiple sponsors and business partners after a legal deposition transcript, in which she acknowledged having previously used racial slurs, became public.
Deen’s publicist, Elana Weiss, is quoted by the AP as saying in an emailed statement of the judge’s decision, “We are pleased with the court’s ruling today that Lisa Jackson’s claims of race discrimination have been dismissed…As Ms. Deen has stated before, she is confident that those who truly know how she lives her life know that she believes in equal opportunity, kindness and fairness for everyone.”
This report is provided by Justice News Flash – Georgia Legal News
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