Chicago Business Litigation Lawyer Blog
Walking the tightrope of business ethics and practice becomes more and more under scrutiny in a climate where minorities are divided. Business owners want to maximize potential, please customers and, let’s face it, the money does matter! Have a business and then be implicated with being racist will come into play in affect image negatively. That’s where allegations of a racist slur have hit the founder of Papa Johns. He came under fire for criticizing the National Football League’s leadership when it came to the anthem “take-a-knee” protests by players. Comments made have come to haunt him in such a way to put him in trouble and, eventually, have led to suit. In the suit filed, company documents are to be inspected due to the company’s treatment of him since the publication of a rumor. He says they are false.
The incident surrounds a conference call made and use of the N-word when it came to Colonel Sanders and KFC. Papa Johns was a sponsor of the National Football League and the context of the conversation came about when national anthem protests were being discussed. In asking him to resign from the company, he feels ousted without proper investigation into the matter. This has, in turn, lead to a “breach of fiduciary duties” in cutting him off from the company. All marketing materials and commercials, including logos have been edited to remove his name or image as well. It is likely that all materials that he is entitled to will be brought into the lawsuit. He feels he will be exonerated. Continue reading ›