Judge Tosses Race Claims from Suit Against Paula Deen

The former Food Network personality admitted in a deposition for the lawsuit that she has used racial slurs in the past.

Paula Deen hasn't seen many victories lately, but she won a small one in court Monday.

A federal judge in Georgia has thrown out race discrimination claims by a former Savannah restaurant manager whose lawsuit against the celebrity cook ended up causing her to lose a big slice of her culinary empire.

Lisa Jackson sued Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, last year saying she was subjected to sexual harassment and racist attitudes during the five years she worked at their restaurant, Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House. But U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. ruled Monday that Jackson, who is white, has no standing to sue them for race discrimination.

The ruling leaves intact Jackson's sexual harassment claims.

The Food Network and other business partners dropped Deen after she acknowledged using racial slurs in the past during questioning by Jackson's lawyers.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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