A federal judge has thrown out racial discrimination claims filed by a former employee of celebrity cook Paula Deen.
Lisa Jackson was a manager at a restaurant owned by Deen and her brother, Bubba Hier. Jackson sued Deen and Hier of committing numerous acts of violence, discrimination and racism. In a deposition that was part of that action, Deen admitted to having used a racial slur in the past.
What followed was a firestorm of organizations distancing themselves from Paula Deen. Her television shows were cancelled and immediately pulled from broadcast schedules, retailers carrying products bearing her endorsement ended those deals and a contract for an upcoming cookbook was cancelled.
ABC News reports in a ruling issued Monday, August 12, 2013, U.S. District Court Judge William Moore ruled Jackson, who is white, has no standing to sue for racial discrimination.