A Muslim Family Is Suing Starbucks For $6 Million Over Alleged Discrimination

Starbucks is facing a lawsuit from a Muslim family over an alleged incident of discrimination involving handicapped seating at a store in Midvale, Utah. The family claims they were forcibly ejected by police and unjustly targeted due to their Middle Eastern ethnicity and Muslim faith. The family claims they were using a handicapped table while displaying a valid handicapped placard for the disabled mother. Another customer in a wheelchair claimed they had no right to be using the handicapped table. Starbucks management called law enforcement, misrepresenting the behavior of the family, leading to their removal and an indefinite ban. The family is seeking $6 million or more in damages, a public apology from Starbucks, the right to return to the store, and a promise to fight discrimination on a larger scale.

Starbucks has dealt with several lawsuits around racial discrimination in recent years, including a $25 million order to pay a former manager who claimed they were illegally fired over a racist incident. However, Starbucks did manage to score a win when a judge dismissed a lawsuit claiming its DEI program was a form of racial discrimination against white employees.

In response to the lawsuit, Starbucks stated that a safe and welcoming public space is a shared community responsibility and that they expect everyone in their stores to treat others with respect and dignity, free of bias and discrimination.

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