Jenkins denied a motion by McDonald's and Kempczinski to dismiss Peaster's race discrimination and retaliation claims. The judge did dismiss claims that McDonald's had created a hostile work environment and intentionally caused Peaster emotional distress. Carmen Caruso, a lawyer for Peaster, said he looks forward to bringing the surviving claims to trial. At a 2021 meeting at McDonald's corporate headquarters, Peaster, the company's vice president of global safety, security, and intelligence, said Kempczinski's response to the incident had been insufficient. Peaster claims that following the meeting, Kempczinski and other executives retaliated against him by refusing to meet with him and making it impossible for him to do his job.

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Persons: Chris Kempczinski, District Judge Linsday Jenkins, Michael Peaster, Peaster, Jenkins, Kempczinski, McDonald's, Carmen Caruso, Lori Lightfoot, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: McDonald's, McDonald's Corp, District, Chicago, Peaster, Thomson Locations: Chicago, U.S, Albany , New York