Wednesday
Dec222004
Black women sue Hair Cuttery salons, claim discrimination
Wednesday, December 22, 2004 at 04:32AM
Hair Cuttery overcharged African-Americans, class action says; Federal
case started in Arundel; Chain denies charges of racial discrimination
Eight African-American women have filed a federal class action against Hair Cuttery's parent company, saying the salon chain discriminates against black customers. The move is the latest development in a lawsuit filed this year by Paulette Harris, an Anne Arundel County woman who said the salon tried to charge her more because she is black. In that suit, Harris said that she was told by a Hair Cuttery employee that she had to pay $8 extra for her shampoo because of her "ethnic" hair. Harris also said that she was asked to pay in advance because, she said the staff told her, "ethnic" people tend to leave without paying. In the class action request filed this week in U.S. District Court, other Baltimore-area women recounted similar experiences at local Hair Cuttery stores. All say they were overcharged for haircuts, paying as much as almost four times the listed price. Some reported racially insensitive comments made by staff members at the salons. Hair Cuttery is a walk-in unisex chain with 800 stores, according to its Web site. Its corporate owner, Virginia-based Creative Hairdressers Inc., has denied any discrimination, according to court papers. Hair Cuttery lawyer Steven R. Semler noted in court papers that once Harris was told the cost for her haircut would be $21 rather than $13, she called the company headquarters' customer service department, which instructed the salon to charge the lower price. [more] and [more]
Eight African-American women have filed a federal class action against Hair Cuttery's parent company, saying the salon chain discriminates against black customers. The move is the latest development in a lawsuit filed this year by Paulette Harris, an Anne Arundel County woman who said the salon tried to charge her more because she is black. In that suit, Harris said that she was told by a Hair Cuttery employee that she had to pay $8 extra for her shampoo because of her "ethnic" hair. Harris also said that she was asked to pay in advance because, she said the staff told her, "ethnic" people tend to leave without paying. In the class action request filed this week in U.S. District Court, other Baltimore-area women recounted similar experiences at local Hair Cuttery stores. All say they were overcharged for haircuts, paying as much as almost four times the listed price. Some reported racially insensitive comments made by staff members at the salons. Hair Cuttery is a walk-in unisex chain with 800 stores, according to its Web site. Its corporate owner, Virginia-based Creative Hairdressers Inc., has denied any discrimination, according to court papers. Hair Cuttery lawyer Steven R. Semler noted in court papers that once Harris was told the cost for her haircut would be $21 rather than $13, she called the company headquarters' customer service department, which instructed the salon to charge the lower price. [more] and [more]
