Restaurant Abused Them, Three Say

ST. LOUIS - Two U.S. citizens of Russian descent say they were thrown out of a restaurant because of their accent. Ilya Ruvinskiy, Ivan Krasavsev and Deidre Walker claim in City Court that the Lucas Park Grille discriminated against them because of their national origin.

The plaintiffs claim Lou DeFrancesco, a Lucas Park bouncer, abusively ejected them on Aug. 19, 2007, after he heard their Russian accents.

DeFrancesco told Ruvinskiy that he had to speak better English if he wanted to come to a public place and drink, the suit states.

The plaintiffs say DeFrancesco ridiculed their accents; told them that he could treat them as he wished because the police and his bosses would not be able to understand them; shoved Ruvinskiy; and grabbed Krasavsev's arm and caused him to spill his drink on Walker. The plaintiffs demand punitive damages and are represented by Mark Potashnick. See complaint.

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