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Customer sues Popeyes worker for attack after ripping out hair while trying to fix an incorrect order

Saturday, 23/12/2023, 16:32 (GMT+7)

A customer was assaulted by three Popeyes workers last year in the Atlanta branch, leading to her physical and mental health issues.

A customer has taken legal action against a Popeyes worker in Atlanta, claiming she was assaulted after attempting to rectify an incorrect order.

Denetra Dawson filed a lawsuit on August 4th, almost a year after the alleged incident occurred at a Popeyes restaurant on Cleveland Avenue in southwest Atlanta, Georgia.

Customer sues Popeyes worker for attack after ripping out hair while trying to fix an incorrect order 1
Woman sues Popeyes after being assaulted last year. Image Credit: Atlanta New First

According to Dawson, while in the drive-thru area, three workers emerged and attacked her.

In September 2022, law enforcement responded to a disputed call at the restaurant, as stated in the police report.

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Woman was assaulted while walking through the drive-thru area. Image Credit: Atlanta News First

Dawson stated that upon realizing her order was incorrect and unsatisfactory, she requested to speak with a manager. 

After a short, two workers approached her vehicle, with one of them entering her car and assaulting her. Another employee allegedly assaulted her in the drive-thru.

The altercation resulted in visible scratches on Dawson's face and braids ripped from her head. 

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Dawson said the incident had a devastating impact on her and her family. Image Credit: Atlanta New First

Expressing her shock and disbelief, she mentioned that her intention was simply to acquire food for her children, questioning why she became the target of such aggression.

Furthermore, she highlighted the impact of losing a braid, as it caused her physical and mental issues. In addition, it also restricts her ability to style her hair.

Popeyes is irresponsible in managing employee background

Dawson's lawyer claims that Popeyes was irresponsible in not running background checks on its staff, particularly the manager who allegedly had a history of assault convictions and other crimes.

They emphasized Popeyes' disregard for customer safety by hiring a manager with a violent past, as the manager and two employees allegedly perpetrated the attack inside Dawson's car.

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The victim's lawyer claimed that Popeye was negligent in checking employee backgrounds, leading to the unfortunate incident. Image Credit: Getty

Popeyes acknowledged that the incident took place in September 2022 and confirmed the immediate termination of the employees involved.

Due to the ongoing lawsuit, the company refrained from providing further details.