A former professional baseball player who was once the largest black McDonald’s operator in the US has sued the company for racial discrimination.
Herb Washington said the firm had denied black owners the opportunities it gave to whites, including by steering them to stores to “distressed, predominantly black” areas.
He accused the company of retaliating against him after he raised concerns.
McDonald’s blamed his troubles on “mismanagement”.
In a statement, the firm said it was reviewing the complaint, adding that Mr Washington was facing “business challenges that we don’t want for anyone in our system.”
“This situation is the result of years of mismanagement by Mr Washington, whose organisation has failed to meet many of our standards on people, operations, guest satisfaction and reinvestment,” the company said.
“His restaurants have a public record of these issues, including past health and sanitation concerns, and some of the highest volumes of customer complaints in the country.”
McDonald’s has faced similar claims from black franchise owners before. In a lawsuit last year, more than 50 former franchise owners accused the company of steering them to stores in less desirable neighbourhoods.
Mr Washington, who opened his first McDonald’s franchise in 1980 at the age of 29 after a brief stint playing for the Oakland Athletics, said the firm had repeatedly hindered his business.
That included by blocking him from buying stores from a white franchise owner and denying him financial assistance comparable to that offered to white operators.
Despite the challenges, Mr Washington said he at one point ranked as the company’s largest black operator in the US, with 27 restaurants. He continues to own 14 stores.