Dunkin' Donuts sued over racial bias

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TRENTON, N.J., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Dunkin' Donuts discriminates against minority owners through unfavorable business locations, a suit filed Monday in New Jersey state court says.

The Massachusetts-based Dunkin' Brands operates nearly 7,000 pastry-and-coffee franchises throughout the country, about 50 of which are minority-owned and located in "economically less advantageous areas," the suit said. The plaintiffs claim the company prevents minority owners from expanding with additional stores.

Former franchise owners Reggie and Amy Pretto, an African-American who now live in Montclair, N.J., were "steered" to "undesirable" locations in Baltimore and Washington after the company allegedly made false representations regarding the unavailability of better spots, The Boston Globe reported.

The law firm Marks & Klein, which won a $206 million settlement against the Quiznos sandwich chain after franchisees sued the company for racial discrimination, is representing the plaintiffs, the New York Post reported.