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Panera Bread Racial Discrimination Class Action
By Kimberly Mirando
A second potential class action lawsuit has been filed against a Panera Bread franchise in Pennsylvania alleging the owner had a policy of keeping “fat, black or ugly” people off the cash registers and out of management positions.
According to the class action discrimination lawsuit, Panera Bread franchisee Covelli Enterprises discouraged managers from hiring African Americans and relegated them to menial, back-of-the-store roles to keep them away from customers. The lawsuit was filed by a former African American employee who claims he was forced to quit because of the alleged discrimination.
His class action lawsuit follows a November lawsuit filed against the same franchisee by a former Panera Bread manager who claims he was fired after objecting to the alleged discriminatory policies.
Covelli Enterprises responded to the allegations in a statement reading, “These complaints represent a coordinated attempt by two disgruntled former employees to discredit the company for a profit motive.”
The statement went on to say the second employee did not quit because of alleged discrimination, but rather “walked off his shift in the wake of being disciplined for repeatedly violating the company’s dress code policy and other company policies related to health and safety standards.”
Covelli Enterprises denies the accusations of discrimination, saying the franchisee “maintained policies prohibiting unlawful conduct and [kept] a work environment free from unlawful discrimination.”
The second Panera Bread discrimination class action lawsuit is seeking actual, compensatory and punitive damages, and is seeking to represent all African Americans hired at Panera Bread branches owned by Covelli Enterprises, which is based in Warren, Ohio. It is not seeking to represent overweight or “ugly” people.
Updated January 16th, 2012
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20 thoughts onPanera Bread Racial Discrimination Class Action
Has anyone gotten an actual date for this fall?
No but if anyone has the number of the Eeoc phone number that they gave us with tax papers we had to fill out by may 29 th can someone send it to me 4402637215
Did you ever get the number
number is 855-948-0304
It takes years for settlement lawsuits. I submitted mines and have been working with Lynn when she reached out to me a couple years back. Got all my legit information and evidence and wolla.. 2021 settlement check disbursed. The issue steam from 2014 to 2015. So they are probably going by date and legit evidence. Hope and wish for you all the best.. Only a hand selected will probably get the settlement checks.
Do you by any chance have the number that they give out to update any information
Hey everyone so if your like me and wondering where your money is they said checks will be sent in the early fall
Any updates on this I turned in all info well before it was due what’s going on really weird to me
I have heard back about my settlement today that I submitted 3 years ago :) They are giving you until may 31st to complete all required forms in order to receive the settlement check.
I have not been contacted about the settlement and I have provided my information.
Why contact me about a settlement and steal the money because you all have not sent the pay. Bunch of crooks, where is the money?
Haven’t heard anything about this. Completed paperwork on 10/6/2019. Where is the settlement?
I’ve filled a form for law suit from 2017 to 2019 but no one contact about the since that was sent to me by mail at 1748 nw 18th street but I’ve moved 5months ago please help
you can change your address by calling 855-948-0304 . they update the status of the checks frequently . the checks havent been mailed yet and they expect it to come Before December 2021. right now they are expecting as of mid Novemeber 2021. You still have time to correct your address. got the number from the email they sent when doing the w9 forms and have been checking it frequently. status Is constantly changing.
Yes, pls Add me
E mail addy