Two Black cross-country truck drivers filed a federal lawsuit this month alleging they were denied service and harassed at a Denny’s restaurant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Each man is seeking damages of $4 million.
Damon Whitfield and Hector Madera, who live in Pennsylvania, work as a long-haul trucking team and were transporting a load from Seattle back to the East Coast when they stopped at a Pilot Flying J gas station just off the highway on Aug. 13, 2023, their lawsuit says.
Their plan was to rest, shower and grab a bite at the Denny’s located inside the gas station. While Madera showered, Whitfield went into the restaurant to order breakfast for both of them before they resumed their drive.
He was seated by waitress Anne Fletcher, who gave him menus and took and served his order of orange juice. Over the next 30 minutes, more customers arrived and were waited on by Fletcher, who did not return to his table…