CVS’ “Ching Chong” Racial Discrimination

CVS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION RECEIPT LISTING ASIAN CUSTOMER AS CHING CHONG LEE!

On February 7, 2013 Hyun Lee, seven months pregnant, went to CVS Pharmacy at 328 West White Horse Pike, 
Egg Harbor City, New Jersey
 to pay for her photos she had developed there.

Upon paying, the cashier handed her a receipt listing her as “Ching Chong” Lee, written CVS’s employee William.

“Ching chong” is a pejorative term sometimes employed by speakers of English to mock people of Chinese ancestry, or other Asians who may be mistaken for Chinese.” ¹

Ms. Lee complained to CVS customer relations that “Does the name in any way match my name? I had ordered online with MY name!!! And why in the world would the clerk change my name? Do you think it’s funny? It’s very disturbing to me!!!”  CVS responded that the clerk would be “counseled and trained.

On April 16, 2013, Ms. Lee’s attorney Susan Chana Lask filed a Federal Discrimination suit in the District of New Jersey, Camden Division, demanding One Million Dollars punitive damages against CVS for discrimination based on the racial slur. READ THE COMPLAINT.

In 2012, CVS reported a total revenue of $123.1 billion, so Ms. Lee’s lawsuit is well within CVS’ ability to pay and is reasonable in its amount and justified in the circumstances of the case to punish and to deter CVS employees from repeating such misconduct.

“This is CVS’ prescription for disaster! They added insult to injury that William “will be counseled and trained” when he should be fired.  Store counseling cannot correct intolerable discrimination. Nationwide people are terminated immediately when this occurs”, stated Susan Chana Lask, attorney for Hyun Lee.

Racial harassment is so intolerable that criminal penalties exist in many states for such bias.  In New Jersey statute §2C:16-1 entitled “Bias intimidation” makes it a crime for anyone to intimidate or harass someone because of their race.  Cases hold this type of racial slur from a store employee as harassment, and criminal charges exist.

On January 6, 2012 there was Papa John’s “Lady Chinky Eyes” receipt, then on July 1, 2012 the Hooters’ “Chinx” receipt to an Asian man and the recurring “Ching Chong” at Chick Fil A received by two Asian students in Los Angeles. ³

“Racial slur receipts are a new form of harassment, devastating customers who simply want to receive decent service, not discrimination. Ms. Lee’s federal lawsuit will send a message to the CVS’, Papa Johns and other entities so they watch their receipts and their employees’ mouths”, Lask said.

To prevent liability, management should check their register receipts weekly for racial slurs and terminate employees who engage in this misconduct.

It makes you wonder how many times you were referred to as “Ching Chong” or some other racial or derogatory slur when you never looked at your receipts before throwing them away?