Mississippi residents sue Cracker Barrel over racial discrimination By Shelia Hardwell Byrd JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Eleven black Mississippi residents sued Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., alleging they received poor service compared to white patrons at several of the company's restaurants. The lawsuit claims the plaintiffs were subjected to racial discrimination when they attempted to dine at Cracker Barrel restaurants in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. The alleged discrimination happened over several years, according to the suit. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Jackson. The lawsuit says the customers were passed over for tables in favor of white customers who came into the restaurants after they arrived. The lawsuit also says the plaintiffs were subjected to unreasonable wait times for tables and service and that they were seated in segregated areas of the restaurants. ’Unfortunately, these allegations are reminiscent of the days when people were put on the back of the bus because of their race," attorney Rob McDuff said. The company, which faces other such lawsuits in other states, operates more than 450 Cracker Barrel restaurants across the nation. Cracker Barrel, which is based in Lebanon, Tenn., believes the lawsuit is without merit, spokeswoman Julie Davis said. ’We know they are mostly allegations from a previous class action lawsuit that have been recycled," Davis said. The suit seeks changes in the restaurant chain's policy on discriminatory practices. It also seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Susan Huhta, an attorney with the nonprofit Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, said some of the Mississippi plaintiffs were witnesses in the other lawsuits filed against Cracker Barrel in Georgia, North Carolina and Arkansas. A federal judge denied class action status in the Georgia lawsuit.

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