LOS ANGELES - Nike faces charges in Los Angeles federal court for alleged intentional infliction of emotional distress and other civil rights violations after an employee allegedly refused to allow Asian Americans in one of its stores.
The plaintiff is an anonymous female minor residing in San Bernardino County. She is an Asian American. On March 6, 2020, the plaintiff visited the Ontario Mills shopping center with friends. According to the suit, her white friend entered the Nike store in the center, but her and her other Asian American friend were stopped from entering by an employee.
When the plaintiff and her friend inquired as to why they could not enter after their white friend had, the employee allegedly responded "coronavirus," and when the plaintiff told the employee that she and her friend did not have the virus, the employee allegedly responded, "you're Asian."
Despite the plaintiff telling the employee that anybody could have the virus, not just Asians, she was allegedly forbidden from entering the store so that she "doesn't scare the other customers."
Nike is charged with discrimination in a business establishment on the basis of race and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The plaintiff is represented by the Dolan Law Firm PC. The case was filed in November in Los Angeles state court, and the defendant recently removed it to federal court.