Black Restaurant Patrons ‘Viciously’ Attacked by White Tour Group, Lawsuit Says

A lawsuit has been filed following a racially charged Little Rock, Arkansas, restaurant brawl over social distancing guidelines and coughing.

Plaintiffs Shayla Hooks and Tyrone Jackson filed their lawsuit against Landry’s Inc. in federal court Thursday.

According to local news outlet ABC7, the incident happened June 25 at Saltgrass Steakhouse when Hooks and Jackson told a man near them at the bar he was too close to them, and asked him to stay 6 feet away, based on social distancing guidelines in effect due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Witnesses told ABC7 that rather than moving away, the man, a 56-year-old Louisiana resident, moved closer to them. 

Hooks also told police that the man and his companions had used racial slurs, ABC7 reported.

In her lawsuit against Landry’s, which operates Saltgrass Steakhouse, Hooks says the company failed in its responsibility to protect guests, actually increasing the danger posed to those guests.

Social distancing guidelines and other public safety protocols have been mandated in Arkansas since April in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19, the lawsuit says.

“It is an unfortunate fact, however, that implementing these precautions — even the mere public safety act of wearing a face mask — can draw the anger, aggression and even violence of a certain segment of society,” the lawsuit says.

Arkansas restaurants wanting to resume dine-in operations were required to take several measures to ensure customer safety during reopening phases 1 and 2, including mandatory limits on total seating capacity, social distancing guidelines and staff and guest usage of face coverings, among other things. 

The health department added that bars within restaurants would be allowed to operate as long as individuals could remain at least 6 feet apart.

According to the lawsuit, on the night in question, the restaurant was in violation of the mandatory maximum capacity and several individuals weren’t wearing face coverings.

Because of the crowd, the plaintiffs say they asked to be seated in the bar area. A manager directed them to the end of the bar that allowed them to be socially distant from a customer already seated at the bar.

After they had been there about 15 minutes, a tour bus showed up and dozens of people entered the restaurant — allegedly none of them were wearing face coverings or abiding by social distancing requirements.

Some in the party, including a man named Robert Willis, asked the manager about group seating, the lawsuit says. The manager told him the group would be sitting in the bar near the plaintiffs, further violating COVID-19 safety protocols rather than telling him there wasn’t sufficient seating.

The plaintiffs maintain they overheard the manager tell Willis: “I don’t care. If it’s OK with [the plaintiffs], then it’s OK with me.”

Willis, allegedly coming within 2 feet of the plaintiffs, asked them if they’d permit his group of six to sit near them.

Jackson responded, saying, “Nah, man, I don’t think that is cool, what with COVID and all.”

Willis, “who was clearly intoxicated,” according to the plaintiffs and later police, screamed profanities and called Jackson a name, then stormed away.

The plaintiffs reported the incident to a second manager and requested that Willis be removed from the premises.

“Uninterested, the second manager refused to look into PLAINTIFFS’ request,” the lawsuit states. 

The plaintiffs say a few minutes later, a group of white women “stood intentionally close” to them while ordering drinks. As they were waiting, one woman made “comments of racial innuendo,” intending to be overheard.

The group also complained about how people were being stupid about COVID.

A few minutes later, a white man with the group approached the plaintiffs, allegedly coming “within inches” of Jackson’s face and asking if he had a problem with someone being so close to him. Soon after, another white man from the group deliberately coughed at the plaintiffs, with “spit particles” landing on Hooks.

Hooks went to wash up, but while in the restroom, she says she was confronted by three white women without face coverings who “aggressively” asked what Jackson’s problem was and blocked the exit, “in an obvious attempt at intimidation.” Hooks squeezed past them and returned to the bar, at which point another patron began recording the incident with his phone, the lawsuit says.

The video “depicts a white woman aggressively pursuing and making unwanted physical contact with [Hooks] multiple times while a white man initiates unwanted physical contact with [Jackson],” according to the lawsuit.

Eventually, the plaintiffs say, they were physically attacked.

Willis allegedly punched Hooks, “causing a black eye and other swelling.”

Following the attack, one woman told police it had been Hooks who had intentionally coughed on patrons.

The plaintiffs say they lived with fear and anxiety over the possibility they had contracted COVID-19 until their test results came back negative.

Plaintiffs’ counsel requested the restaurant to maintain all exterior and interior video surveillance recordings; however, outside litigation counsel for Landry’s “claimed ignorance” about the existence of such cameras at Saltgrass Steakhouse.

“The inference reasonably drawn from these facts is that Saltgrass Steakhouse may have destroyed, damaged, lost or misplaced video recordings captured on June 27, 2020 … .” 

Hooks and Jackson accuse Landry’s of negligence, racial discrimination and defamation. 

The decision by the restaurant to not allow the plaintiffs to choose their seats while allowing the all-white tour group to choose theirs amounts to racial discrimination, the plaintiffs say.

The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the defendants violated their rights under the Constitution, as well as U.S. and Arkansas law; compensatory and punitive damages; and any further relief the Court deems appropriate.

They also demand a jury trial.

Have you faced racial discrimination or anger while trying to abide by COVID-19 safety protocols? Tell us about your experience in the comment below.

The plaintiffs are represented by Michael J. Laux of Laux Law Group.

The Little Rock Restaurant Social Distancing Racial Discrimination Lawsuit is Shayla Hooks, et al. v. Landry’s Inc. d/b/a Saltgrass Steakhouse, Case No. 4:20-cv-01078-KGB, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Central Division.

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