Christian V. McOmber, Esq. and Peter D. Valenzano, Esq. represent Amanda Breaud in a retaliation case filed against Applebee’s Restaurants LLC and Doherty Management Services, LLC. The complaint alleges that Ms. Breaud was subjected to harassment and retaliation by her co-workers and supervisors after she properly removed a customer from the Middletown, New Jersey Applebee’s Gill and Bar (“Middletown Applebee’s”) after numerous families had complained about the customer’s loud, racist rants against Muslims. Although the other patrons of the restaurant profusely thanked Ms. Breaud – one person even writing a message of thanks on their receipt – the bartender with whom the offending customer had been speaking complained about the tips she lost after the customer left the restaurant. Instead of being supported by her management, Ms. Breaud was reprimanded for removing a “regular” patron and was told that she should have relocated the complaining families instead. As alleged in the complaint, this was part of a longstanding pattern of racism and bigotry endemic to the Middletown Applebee’s location.
Rather than reward Ms. Breaud for her bold stance in support of civility and against blatant racism, Ms. Breaud found herself subject to a torrent of retaliation, forced to endure an overwhelmingly hostile work environment, and terminated in violation of law.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Monmouth County Superior Court, alleges violations of, among other things, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act. Ms. Breaud seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
“As alleged in the complaint, the actions taken by Ms. Breaud should be celebrated, not punished. The retaliation experienced by our client has no place in a civilized society and Applebee’s must be held to account for its failure to oppose racism in its restaurants and for violating our client’s rights . We are proud of Ms. Breaud for her courage in standing against racism and in exposing the unacceptable conduct of Applebee’s Restaurants LLC and Doherty Management Services” Christian V. McOmber, Esq., McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C.