Former Taco Bell Employee Alleges Managers Used Racial Slurs In Suit Against Owner Of Local Franchise

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A former employee has alleged racial discrimination in a suit filed against the owner of a local Taco Bell franchise.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Raymond Brantley, 35, who is African-American, alleges managers at the restaurant near Los Angeles International Airport owned by Cotti Foods Corp. routinely used racial slurs.

The suit further alleges that one manager said she didn't want African-American employees at the location.

Brantley's attorneys allege that after months of Brantley complaining to superiors and eventually a district manager about the treatment, one supervisor wrote, "(expletive) you, N-word" on his lunch order for everyone in the kitchen to see.

"That was the incident that really broke the camel's back here," said Arash Khorsandi, an attorney for Brantley.

"He had to keep going up the ladder until he got some level of a response, but, in essence, none of them were sufficient and none of them were really substantive," said Azad Marvazy, an attorney for Brantley.

Instead, the lawsuit alleges, Cotti Foods retaliated, transferring Brantley and then firing him in August, allegedly for not properly using the corporate greeting with a customer.

Brantley is suing for lost wages and unspecified damages.

"Mr. Brantley is a very honest and hard-working man and he really tried to maintain his position there and tried to get the situation rectified," Marvazy said.

No one at the store was authorized to speak to CBS2 News.

Cotti Foods said the corporation does not comment on pending litigation, but in a statement said: "Cotti Foods is committed to a diverse workforce free from harassment and discrimination."