Maryline Laroche, Alma Water, Aaron Wright, Daniel Carpenter, Vickie Kendrick, Francis Tulino, Nicole Channer, Clifford Fortner, and Sylvia Clinch vs. Denny’s Inc. and Advantica Restaurant Group

On January 2, 1998, a group of correctional officers enter Denny’s restaurant around 12:30am in Miami, Florida. They asked if they could sit in the back dining room so they could push the tables together since more officers would be showing up. Mr. Ketner was the friendly host that seated them in the back, but as the other officers arrived, Mr. Ketner informed the officers that the restaurant was out of food. The officers questioned him of this statement. They demanded to speak to a manager about this. Carlos Ibarra, the graveyard manager of 3 months, came over to the group and informed them that the supply truck had not arrived so they are out of food. He informed them that they could call the 1-800 number if they had a complaint. This discussion escalated and he told the group that restaurant was closed and that he would not speak to them anymore. As the mixed race group was being shown the door, a comment was made that “you don’t look right together”. He then escorted them out and locked the door. As the group was conversing in the parking lot, the manager of Denny’s unlocked the door to let other patrons in. While standing in the parking lot, one of the officers called this restaurant to find out if it was truly closed and was informed that they were not closed but were out