HOUSTON — An African American restaurant employee alleges she was fired because of her race and that the general manager said he only wanted "white, thin and pretty" female employees.
Tlisha Whaley filed a complaint Oct. 24 in Harris County District Court against Hearsay LLC alleging race discrimination and other claims.
According to her complaint, Whaley, an African American woman, began working for the defendant's Chic Antique restaurant as a server and hostesses in April of 2021. She alleges that throughout her employment, she was subjected to "unwelcome harassment" due to her race and was treated "less preferentially" than white employees.
Specifically, Whaley claims the restaurant's general manager stated that the owner "wanted less black people in the restaurant" and told employees he wanted "white, thin and pretty female employees." She further claims that on June 26, 2021, she was abruptly terminated for an alleged dress code violation and escorted out of the restaurant by law enforcement. Whaley alleges that after her termination, the general manager "boosted" to other employees that he planned to fire all African American employees in order to "clean up the look" of the company.
Whaley seeks monetary relief between $250,000 and $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Lyric Centre of Moore & Associates in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2022-69400