A federal judge last month ruled in McDonald’s favor in a three-year-old discrimination case, saying that a former security officer did not present evidence that the fast-food giant’s actions against him were motivated by race.
The lawsuit was filed by Michael Peaster, a former VP of global safety, security and intelligence, who alleged he was the victim of a year-long hostile work environment before he was fired in 2022. Peaster sued McDonald’s late that year.
Federal court judge Lindsay Jenkins ruled in favor of McDonald’s motion for summary judgment, saying that Peaster “failed to introduce evidence permitting a jury to find that he was targeted for either his race or engaging in a protected activity.”
Carmen Caruso, attorney for Peaster, said he plans to appeal.
Peaster, who is Black, argued that his treatment was rooted in comments he made contradicting McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski, who was also named in the lawsuit, during a public forum in November 2021.
That forum followed publicity over texts Kempczinski had previously sent to former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, placing the blame for the shootings of two children in the city on the victims’ parents.
McDonald’s, however, had argued that Peaster was terminated over issues related to his job performance, noting that he was promoted shortly after the forum.
“From the beginning, we’ve said the claims didn’t align with the facts or values we stand for,” Desiree Ralls-Morrison, EVP and chief global legal officer for McDonald’s, said in a system message, seen by Restaurant Business. “This outcome is yet another example where the facts prevailed over baseless allegations.”
The ruling comes a few months after McDonald’s settled another legal case over alleged discrimination, in that case a four-year-old battle with media mogul Byron Allen, owner of Entertainment Studios.
Ralls-Morrison referred to that settlement in her message. “As Entertainment Studios stated in settling its litigation against McDonald’s earlier this year, ‘During the course of this litigation, many of our preconceptions have been clarified, and we acknowledge McDonald’s commitment in Black-owned media properties and increasing access to opportunity,’” she wrote.
“We’re ready to move forward and remain committed to our values of inclusion, integrity and expanding opportunity for everyone we serve and employ,” she added.
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