PHILADELPHIA – JAMS, the largest private provider of ADR services worldwide, is proud to announce Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.), a JAMS neutral, successfully mediated the settlement agreement between Donte Robinson, Rashon Nelson and Starbucks Coffee Company.
On April 12, a Starbucks store manager in Philadelphia called the Philadelphia Police Department after Mr. Robinson and Mr. Nelson, two black men, refused to vacate the premises after being asked to leave. The request came after one of the men asked to use the restroom while the pair waited for a third-party and was refused, as he hadn’t yet made a purchase. The two were then arrested on “suspicion of trespassing.”
The incident quickly gained national attention, as the arrest was immediately deemed unwarranted and a product of racial bias. Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson called the actions “reprehensible,” and announced Starbucks would be closing 8,000 of the company’s U.S.-based locations on May 29, 2018 to train 175,000 employees on implicit bias, promoting inclusion and helping to prevent discrimination.
After the incident, the parties immediately contacted retired United States Magistrate Judge Welsh, who oversaw the mediation, helping the parties resolve the dispute through a series of meaningful and constructive conversations. The parties reached settlement agreements in early May. According to the joint statement released by Starbucks, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Nelson, the agreement “includes a confidential financial settlement as well as a commitment to continued listening and dialogue between the parties as a means toward developing specific actions and opportunities.”
About JAMS
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide. With Resolution Centers nationwide and abroad, JAMS and its more than 350 neutrals are responsible for resolving thousands of the world’s important cases. JAMS may be reached at 800-352-5267. More information is available at www.jamsadr.com and you can connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
