Compton Herald

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A Black couple sued a downtown Los Angeles IHOP restaurant, saying they were subject to "a state of great shock and humiliation," when asked to pay before they were served in April 2022, a suit alleges.

Black woman sues IHOP alleging she was told to pay first, then eat

LOS ANGELES (CNS)—A Black woman has settled her civil rights suit against IHOP in which she alleged she was told by a manager where she dined at the downtown Los Angeles location

in April that she would have to pay her bill before her food was served.

Lawyers for plaintiff Lisa Hines filed court papers on Wednesday with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Holly J. Fujie stating that the case was resolved, but no terms were divulged. An IHOP representative issued a statement shortly after the Aug. 10 filing of the suit, which had also alleged intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

"Given this is pending litigation between our local LA franchisee and Ms. Hines, we are limited in what we can share, but are treating this issue with the seriousness it warrants. Discrimination has no place in our restaurants and we strive to make every IHOP welcoming to all."

Hines and her husband, Joshua Williams, went to the restaurant on Flower Street on April 29 and waited about 15 minutes to be seated even though the restaurant was not busy, the suit stated. Williams' race is not stated in the complaint, nor is that of the manager.

The couple ordered food, but before it was brought, a manager told Hines she would have to pay for the food before it could be served, the suit stated.

Hines was the only Black person in the restaurant and did not see others customers asked to pay first and when she asked the manager why she was being required to do so, the manager said it had to do with a manager shift change, the suit stated.

The manager's explanation did not make any sense to Hines, who believes she was treated differently because she is Black, the suit stated. She and her husband "left the restaurant in a state of great shock and humiliation" and she continues to experience mental and emotional distress, according to the suit.

POSTAL HONOR

Biden OKs Renaming of Post Office Branch for Fallen Marine Vet

COMPTON (CNS)—President Joe Biden signed a bill Dec. 27 approving the renaming of a post office branch in Compton in honor of a local military hero—the first Black Marine to receive the Medal of Honor.

Biden signed a bill that will rename the post office at 101 S. Willowbrook Ave. as the PFC James Anderson Jr. Post Office Building.

Anderson, who attended Carver Elementary School in Willowbrook and Centennial High School in Compton, was serving with the Marines in Vietnam on Feb. 28, 1967.

PFC James Anderson, Jr.

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While on patrol, his platoon was ambushed and came under enemy fire, during which a grenade landed amid the troops. Anderson died pouncing on the grenade using his body to shield his fellow troops from the blast. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1968—the
first Black Marine to earn that recognition.

"The bravery of this 21-year-old soldier was beyond every expectation, and his actions are rem- embered by family, friends, and fellow soldiers to this day," Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán, D-San Pedro, who sponsored the legislation to rename the post office branch, said in a statement.

Homicide down in Compton; overall crimes up in 2022

COMPTON (MNS)—Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department year-end crime statistics for the Compton community reveal a 14.2 increase in overall crimes at 4,038, but a 42.8 decrease in homicides from 2021—down from 42 to 25. http://shq.lasdnews.net/CrimeStats/CAASS/Patrol-CurrentMonth-YTD.PDF

In the most recent violence, a man who was stabbed to death here on Christmas was positively identified Dec. 27, and a family member was in custody for the crime. The victim was 20-year-old Compton resident Edgar Morales, according to the coroner's office.

Sheriff's deputies summoned to the 100 block of North Culver Avenue minutes after 10 p.m. Sunday found the victim, according to the Sheriff's Information Bureau. Morales suffered stab wounds to his upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

The suspect was a family member of the victim and was arrested, officials said. A motive was not released. Anyone with information was asked to call Homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.