Monday, August 12, 2013

Paula Deen Racial Discrimination Claims Are Dismissed

A federal judge in Georgia has thrown out race
discrimination claims by a former Savannah
restaurant manager whose lawsuit against Paula
Deen ended up causing the celebrity cook to lose a
big slice of her culinary empire.


Lisa Jackson sued Deen and her brother, Bubba
Hiers, last year saying she was subjected to sexual
harassment and racist attitudes during the five
years she worked at their restaurant, Uncle Bubba's
Seafood and Oyster House.


But U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr.
ruled Monday that Jackson, who is white, has no
standing to sue them for race discrimination.
The ruling leaves intact Jackson's sexual
harassment claims.

The Food Network and other business partners
dropped Deen after she acknowledged using racial
slurs in the past during questioning by Jackson's
lawyers.


"We are pleased with the court's ruling today that
Lisa Jackson's claims of race discrimination have
been dismissed," Deen's rep tells PEOPLE in a
statement. "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."

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