Ex-Con Sues Red Lobster For Not Hiring Him

Ex-Con Sues Red Lobster For Not Hiring Him

A man is suing the Times Square Red Lobster, claiming that the restaurant refused to hire him since he is a convicted felon.

Robert Smith, 38, has spent more than a decade in prison for at least three counts of robbery. In February, he submitted an application to the chain and never heard back. On his fifth follow-up phone call, he reached manager Nicole McVaugh who told him "I'm sorry to have to give you this info, but in my position as manager I don't hire convicted felons."

Smith filed a lawsuit with the Manhattan Supreme Court last week and apparently has a case. Employers cannot turn down convicted felons unless the applicant's criminal history poses an "unreasonable risk" to safety.

Red Lobster claims it has no record of ever receiving Smith's application.

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE