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The complaint,
which has been filed by Attorneys Patrick Cooper and
Percy Badham from the Alabama Law Firm of Maynard, Cooper
and Gale, PC, states that Dillards intentionally discriminated
against the plaintiff and class members by charging
them higher prices for the same salon service as those
charged to similarly situated Caucasian customers and
by specifically instructing their employees and agents
to charge higher prices for the same salon services
based solely on whether the customer was African American
or Caucasian. By charging higher prices to African-Americans
for the same salon services offered to Caucasian customers,
Dillards violated the rights of plaintiff and class
members to make and enforce contracts for products and
services on the same terms as Caucasian customers, the
complaint reads.
Debbie
Sturvisant went to the Dillards Salon in Tuscaloosa,
AL to have her hair washed and set; she was charged
$30 for these services - the price for a wash and set
for ethnic hair. The price charged for the same service
provided to Caucasian customers is $20.00. Vaughan Thomas,
another class member, experienced the same mistreatment
at Dillards in Montgomery (AL) and tape-recorded her
conversation with the stylists. Upon questioning the
high price charged for service, Thomas was told that
it takes longer for ethnic hair to dry and more conditioners
are used.
Representing
the plaintiff, Attorney Cooper says, Dillard's knowingly
has maintained a fraudulent and unlawful scheme in order
to increase its own revenues and profitability to the
detriment of class members by utilizing racially discriminatory
dual pricing schedules for salon services. At all times
in advertising and selling these salon services, Dillard's
and its agents did not disclose this fact to African
Americans prior to providing the service and products.
Dillards had an affirmative duty to monitor its salon
managers and employees to prevent this type of racist
activity.
Dillards,
a Delaware Corporation, with its home office in Little
Rock, Arkansas, owns and operates approximately 340
retail department stores located in twenty-nine states.
With a concentration of stores in the South and Southwest,
Dillards has faced a least three lawsuits claiming racial
discrimination since 1998.
The plaintiff
seeks injunctive and equitable relief, compensatory
damages, punitive damages and other remedies to compensate
class members for Dillard's unlawful and racially discriminatory
conduct.
Note to the Press: For interviews with
Ms. Sturvisant, Ms. Thomas and their attorney, Patrick
Cooper, please contact First Class, Inc. at 404-505-8188.
A full written transcript of the recorded conversation
between the plaintiff and two salon employees is available
and can be emailed. An audio cassette of the conversation
can be mailed upon request.
PRESS CONTACT: Bunnie Jackson-Ransom, 404-505-8188 or
404-226-8000 (cell), bjr@fclassinc.com |
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