Houston's Targeted in Discrimination Lawsuit

An Atlanta lawyer is suing Hillstone Restaurant Group, the parent company of Houston's Restaurant, for racial and ethnic discrimination, reports WGCL-TV. Yussuf Abdel-Aleem claims he and other people of color were asked to leave the restaurant's Peachtree Road location on two separate occasions.

In the first incident, Abdel-Aleem says a manager directed him to remove his baseball cap and then loudly demanded he hang up his cell phone before asking the table to leave, citing the restaurant's policy. Two months later, according to the lawsuit, members of the party returned with two more minority businessmen. The restaurant reportedly called Atlanta police and had the group escorted out of the restaurant. Abdel-Aleem notes that he was not present for the second incident, and none of the other men had previously violated Houston's policy.

Abdel-Aleem told WGCL if he wins the case, he'll donate all compensation to a local charity. Hillstone Restaurant Group did not comment on the lawsuit.