A lawsuit filed against United Dairy Farmers accusing the management of a south Columbus store of discriminatory employment practices will go to trial next spring.The Columbus Community Relations Commission determined there was probable cause for two of six discrimination claims against the convenience store chain to go to trial, said Deborah Pinkney, executive assistant director of the commission.The claims allege store managers at the UDF at 1541 Frebis Ave. refused to hire blacks and made derogatory racial comments. No claims were made against campus area UDFs. Managers at the East 12th Avenue and Frambes Avenue locations declined to discuss the accusations against the Frebis Avenue store.Among the allegations brought before the commission:

  • Ernestine Lett worked at the store from Aug. 18, 1996, to March 6, 1997. She claims she quit because her manager, Colleen Cheadle made racial slurs in the workplace. Lett is alleging a hostile work environment based on her race.
  • In June 1996, Jeffrey Myers had his mother, Mary Butcher, drop off his job application. Myers claims his mother told him Cheadle destroyed the application when she found out Myers was black.
Now it will be up to a jury to decide how fair the practices of UDF have been. The court date is set for May 18, 1998.”They don’t have any diversity or sensitivity training at all,” said Reginald A. Cooke, prosecuting attorney in the case.UDF has adamantly denied these claims and others, but was not available for comment.When the city attorney elections are over next week, a decision will be made about the other incidents, and whether they will go to trial.”Discrimination cases are as rare in this city as the Buckeyes beating Michigan,” Cooke said.