Internet delivery service Kozmo.com was sued Thursday by the Equal Rights Center, a Washington D.C.-based civil rights group, and two African-American co-plaintiffs who claim the company refused to deliver merchandise to their homes because they
Published:
17 April 2000 y., Monday
The suit alleges that "Kozmo refuses to contract with, and serve, persons with Internet access in predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Washington because of their race."
The suit further states that "Kozmo denies persons with Internet access in predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. the full and equal enjoyment of its goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations because of their race, place of residence and place of business."
In a statement released Thursday, David Berenbaum, director of the Equal Rights Center said, "The Equal Rights Center believes that the Internet should be the great equalizer -- race should not be a factor in any transaction. Kozmo.com has implemented an intentional policy of discrimination against its consumers."
Berenbaum said Kozmo's practices "document the fact that consumer racism has reached the digital divide." The lawsuit, filed in Washington D.C. District Court, requests unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Phillip Pierce, a spokesperson for Kozmo.com, told the E-Commerce Times that the company "rejects the irresponsible allegations that Kozmo.com's delivery areas are drawn to exclude minorities." He added that the allegations are "completely false" and "a clear misrepresentation of how Kozmo.com conducts its business."
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
For three days now these group of Venezuelan students have not eaten any food - they're staging a hunger strike against President Hugo Chavez.
more »
Contest challenges young people from Europe and beyond to find creative solutions to real-life problems.EU-sponsored contest challenges young people to think creatively.
more »
In time-honoured tradition it's time for Hamburg's swans to head to their winter quarters.
more »
On 24 November, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas will attend the ceremony during which the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Lithuania Tong Mingtao will hand over the aid to the residential care centre “Vilties Namai” in Vilnius.
more »
If your airline goes bankrupt and leaves you stuck what are your legal rights? Wednesday at midday a crucial vote will be held by MEPs in Strasbourg that could clear the way for the setting up of a compensation fund for stranded passengers.
more »
EU support for volunteering should be stepped up to €10 million, as part of the 2011 European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship, said the Education and Culture Committee on Monday evening.
more »
Jacques Barrot and Luc Van den Brande to co-chair conference assessing the implementation of child rights by local and regional authorities.
more »
Europeans will soon have a new way of getting the commission to act on issues that concern them. But how will the new citizens’ initiative work in practice?
more »
In Ukraine local communities are directly affected by climate change impacts.
more »
Ageism is growing problem – or so most Europeans think.
more »