erunyan@tribtoday.com
YOUNGSTOWN — Herb Washington, who has operated McDonald’s restaurants for 40 years in New York, Ohio and western Pennsylvania, on Tuesday sued McDonald’s USA, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation against him as a black franchisee.
The civil rights lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court and is assigned to Judge Benita Pearson.
The 50-page complaint details his long history with the company, purchase of restaurants in the Rochester, N.Y., Youngstown and Cleveland areas and decline from once owning 27 restaurants to now owning 14.
Washington, who lives in Mahoning County, sued McDonald’s, “the world’s largest franchisor” to “hold it accountable” for its actions toward black franchisees, the suit states.