A lawsuit has accused employees at a Popeyes restaurant of attacking a woman in a drive-thru after she attempted to have her order corrected.
The incident is alleged to have happened in September 2022 at the Popeyes in Cleveland Avenue in southwest Atlanta, Georgia. According to the New York Post, the lawsuit says Denetra Dawson had her hair pulled out and was left bruised following the incident.
Dawson claims she tried to have an incorrect order fixed before words were exchanged with the employees. It is then she claims she was attacked by the workers.
Speaking to Fox News Atlanta, she said: “I didn’t even think I was going to make it back to my kids. I simply went to get food for my kids, I still don’t understand why me.”
Mawuli Davis, who is working the case for the David Bozeman Law Firm, claims one employee physically opened the door on Dawson’s vehicle before entering and attacking her.
Dawson alleges three employees were involved in the incident. She said the only way she could stop them was by pulling out a gun.
She says she then contacted Atlanta Police. According to an incident report, two people — Tenice Taylor and a minor — were charged with battery. A third person identified as Tenister Evans was charged with misdemeanor obstruction of an officer, the NY Post reports.
“They ripped out the braid out of her hair, all the way down to the root,” Davis said.
Dawson alleges she was left with physical and emotional scars following the incident. She added: “They took my identity, I take pride in my hair, I can’t get certain hairstyles.”
Davis claims the restaurant’s manager had a documented criminal past involving violents acts. He says the chain was negligent by hiring the individual and not carrying out full background checks.
In a statement, the lawyer said: “This incident is an outrageous example of Popeyes’ failure to prioritize customer safety and well-being.By hiring a manager with a history of violence, Popeyes exhibited a reckless disregard for the safety of their patrons.
“The manager and two employees exited Popeyes and violently attacked her inside of her car. We are resolute in our commitment to holding the restaurant accountable for their actions and seeking justice for our client.”
Popeyes said in a statement to Fox 5 Atlanta that it has “absolutely no tolerance for violence of any kind” in its restaurants. It said: “The franchisee of this restaurant confirmed the incident took place in September 2022, and the employees involved were immediately terminated.
“We cannot share any additional details as there is an active lawsuit related to this incident.”
