CHARLESTON – A Black woman says she was refused service at a downtown Charleston eatery as well as being called homeless, had racial slurs yelled at her and accused of doing illegal drugs in the restaurant’s restroom.
Sharon Denise Shand filed her complaint December 10 in Kanawha Circuit Court against The Wine Valley LLC. Wine Valley is doing business as The Block Restaurant and Wine Cellar at 201 Capitol Street. But media reports indicate the restaurant recently closed.
According to her complaint, Shand visited The Block on October 28, 2018, to dine. Before she was seated, she says she made a trip to the restroom. She says manager Jeremiah O’Brien stopped her and advised her the restrooms were for customers only. She told him she would be dining there.
“O’Brien then stated to the plaintiff, ‘Sorry, but we don’t serve homeless people at our restaurant,’” the complaint states. “The plaintiff continued toward the bathroom where O’Brien opened the door to the women’s restroom, invaded her personal privacy and modesty, loudly called her by name repeatedly and ordered her to leave the women’s restroom.
“O’Brien continued his abuse of the plaintiff by using derogatory racial slurs directed at the plaintiff.”
Shand says O’Brien contacted the Charleston Police Department, accusing her of using illicit drug in the restroom and saying she threatened him with a needle. Meanwhile, Shand says she waited outside for officers to arrive.
Shand says she interviewed by police, but she was not detained nor arrested. Also, no follow-up investigation was done, and there was no evidence of illegal drug use.
On October 21, 2019, Shand says she brought a claim against The Block and O’Brien with the state Human Right Commission. On September 13, 2021, Shand says she received her Notice of Right to Sue from the WVHRC.
Shand accuses The Block of discrimination, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She says she suffered humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress, annoyance, inconvenience, harassment, indignation and distress.
She seeks compensatory damages, other damages, attorney fees, court costs and other relief.
Shand is being represented by Brian R. Blickenstaff of Turner & Johns in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Joanna Tabit.
Shand filed another complaint in 2017 accusing a former employer and others of discrimination and harassment. That complaint eventually was dismissed.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 21-C-1112
