Todays most humorous press release headline;
Burger King Has Greater Troubles: Internationally Renowned TrialAttorney Willie Gary Asks Burger King for $1.9 Billion
DETROIT, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Famed and internationally recognized trial attorney Willie Gary and his team of trial lawyers are seeking $1.9 billion against Burger King Corporation.
(Photo: NewsCom: newscom.com
"The allegations of breach of contract by Burger King are of astounding proportions," Gary said. "This is a case about corporate greed and a scheme to use our client as a pawn, and it's just not right."
In a press conference today in downtown Detroit attended by leaders of the civil rights community, local politicians and religious leaders, the plaintiff in this case, LaVan Hawkins, was heavily surrounded by his lawyers and supporters. Hawkins, Chairman and CEO of UrbanCityFoods, who, in his own right, was the Bill Gates of the fast food service industry, was fraudulently induced by Burger King to enhance its image and profits not only in the urban and African-American communities, but also throughout the nation.
"In essence, Hawkins was deceived by Burger King into believing that he could develop and own 225 Burger King restaurants over a five-year period," said Gary, "but once Burger King benefited from his creativity and genius, which resulted in increased sales nationally, Burger King reneged on its commitments and promises to Hawkins. As a result, instead of creating over 20,000 jobs in our community as anticipated through Burger King's commitments, Hawkins employs little over 8,900 persons."
"It was never just about the money to me," said Hawkins. "I feel that our communities have a right to first-rate service and treatment in fast food regardless of the location." Hawkins, originally from one of Chicago's most disadvantaged areas, started his career in the fast food service business as a maintenance man at McDonald's and rapidly progressed to manage McDonald's highest volume store at the age of 17. His story truly exemplifies the American Dream. Hawkins has received countless awards for his community service and commitment, including President Clinton's Reginald Lewis Entrepreneur Award, and has donated over $5 million to charities and philanthropic causes over the past five years.
The lawsuit filed on Hawkins' behalf alleges that Burger King committed fraud, misrepresentation, racial discrimination and breach of contract, among other things. "When all is said and done, Burger King never intended to fulfill its promises and commitments to my client," Gary said. "They used him as a pawn to increase their sales nationwide in urban areas, and once the profits rolled in, they discarded him."
Gary is most noted for his half-billion dollar verdict in Jackson, Mississippi against the Lowen Group, a large Canadian funeral home chain. It was one of the largest verdicts in the nation's history on behalf of an individual plaintiff. In addition to over 20 years of tremendous success resulting in multi-billion dollar verdicts, Gary was recently retained on behalf of several African-American plaintiffs in a multi-billion dollar discrimination lawsuit against the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia.
SOURCE Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney Lewis, McManus, Watson, and Sperando
CO: Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney Lewis, McManus, Watson, and Sperando; Burger King Corporation; UrbanCityFoods
ST: Michigan, Florida
IN: RST
SU: LAW BLK
05/03/2000 13:09 EDT prnewswire.com |
