52 former Black franchisees sue McDonald’s, claiming racial discrimination

Dozens of former McDonald’s franchisees have filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming the fast-food giant placed Black owners in substandard restaurants that were likely to fail and then refused to provide financial support for operations in inner-cities, according to news reports. The legal action was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of 52 former owners from 18 states, including Georgia. It seeks $4 million to $5 million in compensation for the owners of 200 stores that are no longer in operation. The suit alleges the world’s most popular hamburger chain purposely set up Black franchisees in locations notorious for lower sales and higher...