A Waffle House franchisee sued for discrimination by four customers has decided to sue the patrons for defamation, according to a report by the Associated Press. Southeast Waffles LLC is asking a judge to throw out the charges of discrimination and force the plaintiffs to pay "as a result of the false claims...that were published by numerous media outlets."
The plaintiffs originally sued Waffle House in March, claiming they were refused service at a restaurant because they were black. They said they were locked out of a Waffle House in Tullahoma, about 65 miles southeast of Nashville, by employees who said the restaurant was closed for maintenance. They said they could see white patrons inside being served. One of the men said he captured the incident on videotape.
Attorneys for Southeast Waffles said that about seven black customers were being served in the restaurant and that no one, "irrespective of race," was allowed inside to buy food or drinks once the restaurant was closed.
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