Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Dec. 10 filed a lawsuit alleging Starbucks Coffee Co. has violated a state civil-rights law through race-based hiring and race-based compensation decisions.

“Defendant (Starbucks) has implemented employment policies that favor persons belonging to only certain favored races — in other words, defendant has engaged in discrimination against persons belonging to non-favored races — namely, white, Asian, and multiracial people,” Uthmeier’s office said in the lawsuit filed in Highlands County.

The lawsuit came after Uthmeier’s office on Nov. 26 said it was dismissing a case against Starbucks that was filed last year at the state Division of Administrative Hearings. In the dismissal, it indicated it would pursue the issue in state or federal court.

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