‘Buffalo Wild Wings’ hit with $5 million lawsuit after alleged racial slur on receipt

A civil rights lawsuit filed this week names Buffalo Wild Wings and its parent company as defendants after a Black disabled veteran claims he discovered a racial slur printed on his take‑out receipt and food packaging following a late‑night visit. The complaint, filed by Marc Loman and his wife Natasha Loman, says the incident occurred at a Woodbridge, Virginia location in November 2024.

According to the filing, the couple ordered food at the restaurant, had leftover potato wedges boxed for take‑out, and only noticed the slur after arriving home. The word in question was an abbreviated form of the N‑word, allegedly printed where the order name should have been.

Natasha Loman posted her concerns publicly on Yelp and TikTok, sharing a photo of the receipt and packaging. She said no name had been requested when they ordered, yet the derogatory term appeared as the customer identifier.

The complaint states that when the couple reported the incident to Buffalo Wild Wings’ corporate office, a vice‑president allegedly confirmed that the kitchen manager at that location had intentionally entered the slur into the system. The employee reportedly has since been terminated.

The lawsuit accuses the company of intentional infliction of emotional distress, noting that Marc Loman – who claims a history of racial harassment, suffered renewed trauma. It states he missed work and sought counselling as a result of the incident.

The plaintiffs are seeking a $5 million judgement as well as punitive damages of $350,000, plus interest, court costs and attorney fees.

Buffalo Wild Wings has reportedly not released a public statement beyond confirming that the employee involved is no longer with the company.

This case adds to a history of claims of racial discrimination and mistreatment at Buffalo Wild Wings locations in the United States. Previous lawsuits have alleged racist behaviour by staff, including discriminatory seating requests and derogatory remarks on receipts.

For the Lomans the lawsuit represents more than compensation, they contend the incident reopened “deep emotional wounds” dating to earlier racial trauma, and that the event demands accountability from a national brand that presents itself as welcoming to all. The outcome could set a precedent for how chains handle similar incidents, and reignite debate about corporate responsibility, employee screening, and systemic bias in casual‑dining franchises.