Black Man Refused Service By Dunkin Donuts Clerk - Sues For $300,000

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BANGOR - An Old Town man filed a discrimination lawsuit in federal court Monday alleging that Dunkin' Donuts in Old Town refused him service because of his race. Anthony Watkins, 51, is seeking $50,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages from Lovley Development Inc., the Newport firm that owns the Old Town Dunkin' Donuts franchise. He also is seeking a jury trial and a $10,000 fine under the Maine Civil Rights Act.


Greg Lovley, owner of the coffee shop, said Tuesday that he had not received a copy of the lawsuit. He said that Watkins had not been refused service but had refused to place an order.

"I've been in business 24 years, served millions of customers and never had a complaint like this," Lovley said Tuesday.

Old Town businessman Watkins, who is black, and his 6-year-old son allege that they were in the store on March 14, 2003, when clerks ignored them for at least five minutes to wait on other customers, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Bangor.

When Watkins complained about his treatment, store personnel called Old Town police.

"Mr. Watkins picked his son up after school and they went across Stillwater Avenue to Dunkin' Donuts because Friday was doughnut day" for them, Watkins' attorney, Brett Baber of Bangor, said Monday. "He is pursuing this because of his son."

When other customers saw Watkins and his son waiting, they offered to let the pair in line ahead of them, Baber said. At that point, Dunkin' Donuts' personnel allegedly accused Watkins of cutting in line. Watkins disputed that and had to raise his voice to be heard over the televisions that were playing loudly in the coffee shop, Baber said Monday.

Lovley said Tuesday that Watkins went to a register that was closed instead of the two that were open. When told the register was closed, Watkins argued with employees until other customers let him in line in front of them, according to the owner. He refused to give an order in that line, and because of his behavior, employees called the police to have Watkins removed.

Old Town police said Monday that there is no report about the incident on file.

Watkins had no complaints about the way police handled the situation, according to Baber.

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