Deaf NY Starbucks patrons sue, say they're mocked

Yahoo News ^ | 7-15-13

[rawhide]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Some Starbucks workers in the city were so rude to deaf customers they mocked them and called the police to try to get them kicked out, a lawsuit says.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an order from the court to stop discriminatory behavior for what's described as multiple occasions of abuse over the past year.

[rawhide]

Sad. I hope the Starbucks employees are fired.

I read some of the hundreds of comments regarding this story and some are really touching. Here is one in particular: "My daughter brought home a book on sign language in third grade. She wanted to learn so she could talk to a new girl in her class who was special needs and could only sign. That was 20 yrs ago and they are still friends today."

[South40]

That is indeed sad. We have a deaf cousin in my family and I couldn’t imagine someone treating her in this manner.

[poobear]

My daughter has 4 years of ASL. She and a couple of her friends are always so excited to find “signing” deaf people to speak with. It’s always a moment of laughter and excitement for both sides.
We have turned into a nation of imbeciles!

[equaviator]

This is really one of the many things in the world that is worse than racism but try telling that to liberal racists.

[Average Al]

Treating deaf people like this is not acceptable, but this story raises an interesting question. Can any group just come in to a Starbucks or any public restaurant and use it for their monthly meetings without the businesses permission?

[Cowgirl of Justice]

Their overpriced coffee that tasts like burnt motor oil was the main reason I wouldn’t never darken their doorstep. Seems they would try to overcome a crappy product by at least being nice to people who are challenged enough in everyday society. Morons.

[txrefugee]

Let’s hope the flaming Socialist who owns Starbucks shows how sorry he really is for employing these hateful people.

[mlizzy]

Sad indeed. I wear a fancy ($$) digital hearing aid that allows me to hear sound, but not clarity (I am 95% deaf). Many people (at establishments I do not frequent often) will sigh, roll eyes, walk away, and just plain snicker if I can't read their lips, and when I explain I have profound hearing loss and ask "will you pen your question on paper" if it's important, in my whole "career" as a deaf person, maybe three or four have done so (the police are very good about this, btw). Some people I believe feel you are "pulling one over on them" and that you're not deaf at all; hence their ignorant reaction.

The deaf community (that gathers here at our local Portillos) is exciting to "watch" as they use ASL very quickly, and they have a gas communicating as such, and my guess is that the Starbucks' employees are jealous they don't know the language and feel they could also be being talked about [in front of their backs]. Ha! If so, turn about is fair play jokers. :)

[Average Al]

I always thought the coffee tasted more like brewed elephant dung..........

[pennyfarmer]

One name... Josh Tatum. /jk

My oldest daughter learned to sign cause of a fellow student that she wanted to talk to. Bravo to those kids who decide to take on that task to learn ASL just to talk to one or two people in class.

[Prov1322]

I always thought the coffee tasted more like brewed elephant dung..........

I do not disagree with you (except for the Italian Dark Roast!).

Well, if it were real elephant dung coffee it would be $500/lb!

Elephant Dung Coffee: Smooth, Exotic & $500/Lb.

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

Let’s see:
1. New York City-check
2. Manhattan even-check
3. Starbucks-check
4. “youthful” fast-food staff-check.

That all adds up to elitist self-centered morons, by definition.

TC

[albie]

I hope Starbucks loses millions. I stopped going there and buying any of their products when they came out in support of gay marriage.

[mom4kittys]

This happened in March and Starbucks says they are “investigating”? It sounds like that they had to file a lawsuit because Starbucks ignored their complaints. shame on them. I guess tolerance only applies if you are black or gay right?

[montag813]

I’ve seen Black Dunkin employees do this on numerous occasions - deaf, Down’s, Parkinson’s - you name it, they’ve mocked it openly and cruelly.

[grania]

A company that wants you to say “grande” instead of “meduim” when ordering coffee has attitude? Go figure. (sarcasm)

[Madhattan]

Great movie recommendation...The Hammer. True story of young man’s extraordinary life and overcoming deafness. Top five sports movies of all time, in my opinion.

[tflabo]

Not a big fan of Starbucks leftist leanings but I’ll buy a cup of their lowest octane coffee now and then. One thing I like is they provide free used coffee grinds for the garden soil. Not all of their employees are jerks—take it on an individual basis.

[americas.best.days...]

AAhhh..Astor place, my old stomping grounds when I lived
on st marks pl between 2nd and 3rd a lifetime ago. This
CANNOT have happened as written. I mean, everyone around there is SO open-minded, tolerant, loving of ALL ‘communities’ loving the planet, peaceful, kind, did I mention full of love?? They speak out for the disenfranchised and victimized everywhere!!

Just ask them, they’ll tell you.

No, I don’t believe it happened.

[Gay State Conservative]

Rumor has it that they were deaf,black,transgendered *and* lesbian so Starbuck’s had better lawyer up.