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Case Center

McCormick & Schmick's

  • Issue: Race discrimination
  • Result: $2.1 million settlement
  • 2008

Wynne, et al. v. McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Inc.

In August 2008, the Court granted final approval to a settlement valued at $2.1 million, including substantial injunctive relief, for a class of African American restaurant-level hourly employees.

The consent decree created hiring benchmarks to increase the number of African Americans employed in front of the house jobs (e.g., server, bartender, host/hostess, waiter/waitress, and cocktail server), a registration of interest program to minimize discrimination in promotions, improved complaint procedures, and monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

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