Deputy Sues Oregon Restaurant After Being Asked to Prepay

An Oregon sheriff’s deputy has filed a lawsuit against the Elmer’s restaurant chain, claiming he was told to prepay for his meal at a Vancouver, Ore. establishment because he is black.

KGW-TV reported Brian Eason, in a suit filed earlier this week, said he went to the restaurant in December 2014 and was asked by a waitress to prepay for his meal.

Eason claims the waitress told him she was instructed by the owner to have him prepay, and that white customers in the restaurant weren’t required to pay upfront for their meals.

The suit says Eason prepaid for his meal and “continues to suffer” from being racially stigmatized.

An Elmer’s representative, Jill Ramos, says the company doesn’t have a policy requiring guests to prepay for their meals.