Tammy Dawn Waller, a biracial woman who worked for a Tennessee restaurant group, Copper Cellar Corp., for 40 years, has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against its owner, Mike Chase, alleging he told her she was not wanted because she was Black.
Waller filed the federal complaint on September 15, 2026, against Chase and Copper Cellar Corporation. She is seeking millions of dollars in damages.
The Alleged Confrontation at the Restaurant
According to the lawsuit, the incident took place on September 22, 2025, at a Copper Cellar steakhouse in Knox County, Tennessee.
Waller arrived for her shift around 2 p.m. and helped a coworker resolve a customer’s bill when she noticed Chase sitting at the bar. After she finished assisting the employee, she allegedly saw him standing in a doorway and staring at her.
The complaint said Chase asked, “What are you doing here?” Waller replied that she was working. He allegedly responded, “They don’t like you here, you’re Black!”
Waller told him she was biracial and had been asked to work there. Chase allegedly replied that he needed her off his payroll.
The lawsuit also accused him of commenting on Waller’s weight and telling her she needed to lose some. When she responded that her husband liked her as she was, Chase allegedly made remarks about her husband’s weight as well.
Several employees reportedly witnessed the exchange, including a manager and members of Waller’s team. The complaint said some employees approached her afterward and told her she should not have to tolerate the treatment. Waller said she felt humiliated and visibly upset by the confrontation.
The Lawsuit Alleged a Pattern of Harassment
Waller claimed the September 2025 confrontation was not isolated. Her complaint accused Chase of regularly making insulting remarks about employees and creating a hostile work environment across the restaurant group.
Per the filing, Chase sometimes entered the company’s restaurants appearing intoxicated and verbally harassed staff. He allegedly reminded employees that he owned the company and suggested that nobody could challenge his behavior because of his position.
Waller claimed this made employees reluctant to speak up. The lawsuit also alleged that senior managers knew about Chase’s conduct but felt unable to hold him accountable.
The complaint described an earlier incident involving another employee who allegedly overheard Chase using a racial slur while discussing Black people with a white customer. Waller said she contacted the company’s human resources director after learning about the incident.
She also alleged that Chase commented on the employee’s weight and offered to pay for weight-loss treatment. Waller argued that the company’s failure to address such complaints allowed the alleged behavior to continue.
How Much Waller Sought in Damages?
Waller sought compensatory damages of up to $1.2 million per count, along with punitive damages of up to $3 million per count. She further requested back pay, front pay and compensation for lost employment benefits.
Beyond financial damages, Waller asked the court to compel the company to adopt and enforce stricter anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and to provide workplace training. The complaint also sought a protective order barring Chase from contacting her and requiring him to remain at least 1,000 feet away.
Attorneys for Chase and Copper Cellar Corporation did not immediately respond to a request for comment when Atlanta Black Star reported the lawsuit. The defendants had 21 days after receiving the complaint to respond in federal court.
