Barneys New York

CNN reported that Trayon Christian, a Black college student, alleged he was stopped, handcuffed, and held about two hours on April 29, 2013, after buying a Ferragamo belt; Barneys said after review that no employee was involved beyond the sale and that it has zero tolerance for discrimination. Kayla Phillips, also Black, alleged a similar detention after buying a Celine bag. The New York Times reported the AG investigation showed a disproportionate number of African-American and Latino customers detained for alleged shoplifting or credit-card fraud. Those customer accounts are allegations; the AG’s disproportionate-detention conclusion is an investigation finding in a settlement, not a trial verdict.

• Customer allegations
  2013: Trayon Christian and Kayla Phillips alleged profiling after purchasesCNN reported on October 23, 2013, that Trayon Christian, an African-American New York City College of Technology student, was suing Barneys and the NYPD. His attorney said that on April 29, 2013, Christian bought a Ferragamo belt, left the Madison Avenue store, and was stopped by undercover officers who accused him of using a fraudulent card, then handcuffed and held him about two hours until the bank confirmed the card. CNN quoted a Barneys statement that after reviewing the April incident, “no employee of Barneys New York was involved in the pursuit of any action with the individual other than the sale,” and that the company “has zero tolerance for any form of discrimination.” Coverage of the same episode, including the later AG case, also records Kayla Phillips, a Black shopper, alleging detention after buying a Celine bag. Those are the shoppers’ allegations and the company’s statement.Source: CNN ↗
• AG investigation finding
  August 2014: AG said detentions disproportionately hit Black and Latino customersThe New York Times reported on August 12, 2014, that after a nine-month investigation, Barneys agreed to pay $525,000 in costs, fees, and penalties and to institute reforms to settle accusations that it singled out minority shoppers for heightened surveillance at Madison Avenue. The Times said the investigation led by Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman showed a “disproportionate number of African-American and Latino customers being detained for alleged shoplifting or credit card fraud.” That is an AG investigation conclusion announced with a settlement, not a jury verdict. The finding names African-American and Latino customers together.Source: New York Attorney General ↗