By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – Fifty-three black relatives from metropolitan St. Louis allege in a lawsuit that they were denied service at a Denny's restaurant in Springfield, Mo. because of their race.
Most of the relatives live in the St. Louis area and Madison County, Illinois.
They contend Denny's employees also used racial epithets as they left the restaurant in July of 2002.
The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for humiliation and emotional distress.
An attorney for Denny's denies the allegations.
Alonzo and Annette Hilton and their relatives were their way to a family reunion in Branson when the alleged incident occurred.
The plaintiffs say a white employee used racially offensive language while asking them to leave, after they complained about not being served.