Posted on 04/21/2008 12:14:51 PM PDT by LSUfan
A Baltimore couple has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Islamic investment bank that owns the Church's Chicken fast-food chain, alleging their franchise failed because the bank's strict adherence to the religious code of Shari'ah prohibited the couple from selling pork.
Marcus and Denise Beasley, who are black, claimed they were treated differently by the bank, now known as Atlanta-based Arcapita Inc., than non-black franchisees who were allowed to continue serving breakfast dishes containing pork after the chain was acquired by the bank in December 2004.
The couple did not benefit from the grandfather policy allowing the sale of pork even though their contract with the chain's former owners, AFC Enterprises Inc., to open a location in Baltimore/ Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport's new terminal predated the takeover and policy change, according to the suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
In the lawsuit, which seeks $5 million in actual damages, $5 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages, the Beasleys contend the bank's "stated reason" for disallowing the sale of pork in their case -- they had not yet opened for business - - was "pretextual."
"Arcapita permitted all of the other breakfast franchisees, which were approximately 30 Church's Chicken restaurants, to do so, all of which were owned by persons who are non-African American or Caucasian," the complaint states. "Of the Church's Chicken breakfast franchises that existed when Arcapita acquired the chain, plaintiffs are the only ones who are African American."
Calls to Arcapita were not returned Wednesday.
Shari'ah law
The Beasleys began negotiations with Atlanta-based AFC in May 2004 and inked a franchise agreement Dec. 17, 2004.
Church's Chicken, which serves American Southern comfort food, was founded in San Antonio in 1952 and has approximately 1,500 franchises worldwide, some of which trade as Texas Chicken, according to the company's Web site.
On Dec. 26, Crescent Capital Investments Inc., the U.S. affiliate of Bahrain-based First Islamic Investment Bank BSC, bought Church's, according to the suit. First Islamic changed its name to Arcapita in March 2005, the compliant states.
In April 2005, the Beasleys entered into a sublease with BAA Maryland Inc., the developer of retail and concession space in the airport, to operate their restaurant in the Pier A/B Core Food Court, according to the suit. The franchise's menu, which included pork items, had to be submitted for approval and became part of the sublease, the suit states.
According to the complaint, the Beasleys had been assured they would be receiving the same letter Arcapita had sent to other existing franchisees, which said the parent company would not be collecting royalties on pork products.
But "approximately one week before" the Beasleys' May 18 opening, the suit states, Arcapita informed them that, as new franchisees who had not yet opened, they may not serve pork, which Islam considers unclean.
The restaurant opened on schedule -- but never served pork -- and closed in late July 2006.
Substantial losses
Part of the "substantial economic losses" the Beasleys suffered was the loss of their house, according to their attorney, Paul M. Vettori of Kenny & Vettori LLP in Towson.
"As the result of the failure of their business at the BWI airport, they were unable to repay the bank for the loan they took out and the [home] was sold at foreclosure," Vettori said.
Vettori declined to comment on other aspects of the suit, including other potential reasons for the short tenure of the restaurant.
Vettori is also the latest attorney to represent the Beasleys in a separate breach of contract suit against AFC, Arcapita, BAA Maryland and the Maryland Aviation Administration. That suit, filed in February 2007, is working its way through the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.
James C. Rubinger of Plave Koch PLC in Reston, Va., who represents Arcapita in the state case, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday.
Qaradawi is not a European. He’s a sharia scholar on the payroll of a bunch of European banks with Islamic finance departments.
I agree with you 100%. Except for our personal religious views it seems.
Boston Market started dumping the ham a long time ago, at least 5 or 6 years. Much to my chagrin, the ham carver was my favorite thing on their menu.
Although I have heard the term I don't recall where in the constitution that is. Would you please enlighten me on that.
Another guy named Usmani is a sharia scholar and was on the Dow Jones Sharia Advisory Board—until last week after Investor’s Business Daily and the Center for Security Policy uncovered that he had written that Muslims in the West should pretend to get along with their fellow citizens until they are strong enough to wage jihad in their new countries...
Read above, I’ve made about 3 or 4 posts on the issue, including quotes from Jefferson. There are many here that can’t get it through their heads that there are those of us on the right that choose NOT to practice a religion for many of the same reasons that they choose TO practice a religion.
And where in this story is there anything having to do with either.
It's just past the emanations and penumbras and two articles down.
They make money other ways. Not sure exactly how, so don't ask, but I think it is by charging fees, instead of interest.
Like the political dodge of calling taxes, “fees”.
Just how is Islam different from Christianity? (not that I think Christianity requires closing businesses on Sundays...)
The minorities desire not to be exposed to religion does not give them veto over the majorities desire to. Minorities or only free not to participate.
Ah, so europeans are just putting the food on his table... That makes me feel so much better lol.
They call it “Texas Chicken” in the mooselimb world.
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I have to boycott Caribou Coffee, too? Their cold metal can of espresso iced coffee is a BUZZER.
Very hard to find, though. Interesting.
My guess is that they bought all of them, but I don’t know for sure.
I do too. But that is not ‘seperation of church and state’.
Hey, I’m with you.
Our founding principals and our culture are based on Judeo-Christian values, so I’m not going to tolerate the invasion of less successful or enlightened cultures.
What's that got to do with "separating" the church from the state? The Constitution proscribes the "establishment" of a religion by the state and it Prohibits the state from interfering with the free exercise of religion. No one should be able to make another person practice a religion. Also, those who don't practice a religion should not be able to outrageously interfere with those who do.
Mickey D’s sold them off last year
I am not contributing one dime to the march of Islamic conquest by my purchases, it's bad enough I have to buy gasoline. But I will not willfully patronize any business or institution that is owned by Muslims, especially the Saudis or UAE.
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