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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Manager Says Denny’s Has Race Bias Problems

SALT LAKE CITY (CN) - A Denny's manager claims that when he wrote up a report of repeated instances of racism directed at a black employee, his report was destroyed and his boss told him, "You cannot make permanent records like that; Denny's does not need another black eye." Then he was fired, he says in his federal complaint.

Everett Lynn Goodrich says he complained that another Denny's manager called an employee a "nigger," made racist comments about the man in front of customers and other employees, and discouraged complaints of harassment.

Goodrich says he recorded the problems in a manager's log, but found the next day that the page had been torn from the log. He says his boss acknowledged the page was missing, saying, "You cannot make permanent records like that. Denny's doesn't need another black eye."

That happened at Denny's outlet in South Jordan in July 2008, and he was fired in September that year, Goodrich says.

Denny's restaurants were plagued with bad press in the 1990s when federal lawsuits claims the chain had discouraged people of color from working for it, or even eating in its 1,500 outlets.

Goodrich seeks damages for emotional distress and wrongful termination. He wants Denny's employees protected for speaking out about discrimination. He also seeks a letter of apology and letter of recommendation. He is represented by Neil Skousen of Orem.

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