Chuck E. Cheese's faces discrimination lawsuit

Woman says manager treated her party with disrespect, ordered another black couple to leave

By Jon Murray
jon.murray@indystar.com

A woman is suing Chuck E. Cheese's over alleged racial discrimination by a manager at an Indianapolis restaurant.
The lawsuit, filed this week in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, says the manager treated Michelle Boggs' party disrespectfully in July after a disagreement about the bill for a 1-year-old's birthday party. They were at the Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant at 8109 E. Washington St. on the Far Eastside.
He then ushered them out the door and said, "Don't worry about the check, just get your black (expletive) out of here," the lawsuit says.
The same manager -- whom the suit names as Paul Dubbin -- earlier ordered another black couple to leave and apologized to white customers about the altercation, the suit says.
An employee who answered the phone Friday said no one named Paul Dubbin currently works there.
The location is a company-owned store, and the lawsuit names CEC Entertainment, Chuck E. Cheese's parent company.
Dick Huston, an executive vice president, said he couldn't comment on the lawsuit but said the company had launched an investigation into the incident.
"We take these allegations very seriously," he said.
Boggs' suit says the disagreement was over a charge for a birthday cake, which she had not ordered. She is seeking reimbursement of a $30 deposit, compensation for emotional distress and punitive damages.
The suit also requests that the court order the company to provide race-relations training to all managers and assistant managers.

Call Star reporter Jon Murray at (317) 444-2752.