Civil Rights Lawyer Will Represent Black Franchisees in McDonald’s Discrimination Lawsuit

Lawyer who represented families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and more joins legal team for Black McDonald’s franchisees

Daryl Parks, an attorney who served as legal counsel for the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and other high-profile victims of racial injustice, is joining the legal team at Ferraro Law Firm representing Black McDonald’s franchisees in two racial-discrimination lawsuits against the fast-food chain.

“The case against McDonald’s is historic, and it is a privilege to be representing the Black men and women who were — and continue to be — treated like second-class citizens by the company,” said Parks, according to Business Insider, which first reported the news.

In both lawsuits — one filed by former franchisees, the other by current franchisees — the plaintiffs accuse McDonald’s of denying Black franchisees the same growth opportunities and treatment as white franchisees. Business Insider found in an investigation last December that there’s a cash-flow gap between Black and white franchisees, with white franchisees earning, on average, about $60,600 more each month, as of 2017.

McDonald’s last month asked a federal judge to dismiss the suit filed by Black former franchisees, countering that “success is promised to no one,” and it didn’t make sense for the company to deliberately set up franchisees to fail.

“McDonald’s has an obvious interest in franchisees maintaining successful and profitable restaurants, which is why McDonald’s supports all franchisees, including those facing economic hardships,” the company told Business Insider in a statement.

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