Trader Joe's Sued By Black Chatsworth Man Alleging Racism

CHATSWORTH, CA — A 72-year-old Black man is suing Trader Joe’s, alleging that a white store captain in Chatsworth blocked him from leaving with a cart of already purchased groceries for about 10 minutes in January without explanation.

Rene McCray filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court Friday alleging civil rights violations, false imprisonment, and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The Chatsworth resident seeks unspecified damages.

Trader Joe’s has not commented on the lawsuit.

According to court papers, McCray regularly shops at the Chatsworth store. On Jan. 20, McCray and his wife Sandra had already purchased groceries when they saw willow stalks in the flower department that they wanted to purchase, so Sandra got back in line to buy them.

When McCray tried to leave with the groceries they’d purchased, store captain Michael Milsovich blocked his path and put his hands on the plaintiff’s shopping cart to hold it in place, the suit alleges.

The suit says that when McCray asked why he was being stopped, Milosevich said nothing and glared at him.

"All the other shoppers in the crowded store were watching the scene as it unfolded over the course of around 10 minutes,'' the suit says. "This scene, an elderly African American gentleman being stopped and harassed by an aggressive white store leader in front of a store full of people, caused great embarrassment, emotional distress and anxiety on Mr. McCray."

Later, Sandra approached her husband her husband after buying the willow stalks, and Milosevich stepped out of the plaintiff’s path without apologizing or explaining his actions, according to the suit.

— City News Service contributed to this report.