McDonald's settles Byron Allen's $10 billion lawsuit over commitment to Black-owned media
June 13 (Reuters) - McDonald's (MCD.N), opens new tab has settled a $10 billion lawsuit by the media entrepreneur Byron Allen challenging the fast-food chain's alleged refusal to advertise with Black-owned media.
Friday's settlement between McDonald's and two of Allen's companies, Entertainment Studios Networks and the Weather Group, averts a scheduled July 15 trial in Los Angeles federal court.
It also resolves Allen's related $100 million lawsuit against McDonald's in Los Angeles Superior Court.
McDonald's said it will buy ads "at market value" from Allen's companies "in a manner that aligns with its advertising strategy and commercial objectives."
Settlement terms are confidential. McDonald's, based in Chicago, denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.
In a statement, Allen's companies said "we acknowledge McDonald's commitment to investing in Black-owned media properties and increasing access to opportunity. Our differences are behind us."
Allen had accused McDonald's of "racial stereotyping" by not advertising with Black-owned media, and lying when it pledged in 2021 to boost national ad spending with those media to 5% from 2% by 2024.
He said he relied on that pledge when seeking new business from McDonald's, only to be rebuffed. Allen also said his Allen Media Group represented more than 90% of Black-owned media.
Allen's networks include The Weather Channel, Cars.TV, Comedy.TV, ES.TV, Justice Central, MyDestination.TV, Pets.TV and Recipe.TV.
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He was charged with two murders, attempted murder, as well as armed robbery and extortion. The Court sentenced him to receive the death penalty for murder and 15 years imprisonment on the other charges. In 1902, he was sentenced to decapitation by guillotine. For his last meal he requested six glasses of beer. Ricky Ray Rector Ricky Ray Rector was an American murderer who was executed for the 1981 murder of police officer Bob Martin in Conway, Arkansas. After getting into a heated disagreement with his friend, a furious Rector pulled a gun on his friend and shot him in the throat and forehead, killing him almost instantly. He went on the run for several days, before his sister convinced him to turn himself in. He agreed, but said he would only do so to Bob Martin, a police officer he had known since he was a child. After Martin arrived at Rector's mother's home on March 24, Rector shot him in the jaw and neck before walking out of the home. 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He strangled 85-year-old Hilda Johnson in 1990 with a set of Christmas tree lights in her own home, stealing $8 from her purse and $4 in loose change, along with a TV set that he fenced for $125. Six months later, after moving to New York, he killed Leslie Holtz in 1991, an 81-year-old man from whom he stole his social security cheque. His bizarre last meal request was for two dozen steamed mussels, two dozen steamed clams, a Burger King double cheeseburger, six barbecued spare ribs, two large milkshakes, a tin of SpaghettiOs with meatballs, half a pumpkin pie and strawberries and cream. Unfortunately, the length or complexity of his list seemed to confuse kitchen staff who made one crucial mistake. Less than an hour before he died, he issued his final statement to the world: 'I did not get my SpaghettiOs, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.' Victor Feguer Victor Feguer was a convicted murderer who became the last federal inmate to be executed by the United States in 1963. 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He told guards he hoped an olive tree would be grown from his grave 'as a sign of peace.'
