Haynes v. Shoney’s, Inc.

Haynes v. Shoney’s, Inc. was a class action brought by African American applicants and employees of Shoney’s restaurants who alleged that Shoney’s refused to hire African Americans or only hired them for “back of the restaurant” jobs where they would not come into contact with customers.  The case not only resulted in monetary relief of $132.5 million and extensive injunctive relief, it also inspired The Black O by Steve Watkins (University of Georgia Press 1997), a comprehensive examination of the case.