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."
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