Aestu wrote:
Shortly after noon, Mr Paul Harriman, the manager, approached me and rudely told me to leave. I asked why; he did not elaborate but insisted that I do so... I asked if this was due to my sexual orientation; Harriman made a very loud, forced laugh, but neither confirmed nor denied this.
This runs counter to your original story...
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I say why, he says I'm not eating and been there too long. I say I'm busy writing, accuse him of harassing me for being ghey.
Furthermore, you're not gay... are you? If you're not, why would you bother lying? If you are, why would you accuse him of treating you differently when there was no apparent mention of your sexual orientation?
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I again asked why and pointed out that I had paid to enjoy the buffet, as I often had, and that I was quietly enjoying myself and bothering no one. Harriman insisted he did not have to give a reason.
But you already said he gave you a reason... "You weren't eating and you've been there too long." You said you were there because you wanted free refils, and that you weren't actually eating, but that you were occupying a spot in a buffet as you were "busy writing"...
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Harriman made several false statements to the officers. Harriman claimed that I had been seated for over three hours. In reality, the meal ticket, which is in my possession, shows I entered the establishment at 10:09 AM, and Harriman had begun to harass me shortly after noon, finally contacting the police no later than 1:20 PM, as indicated on the police report.
I see no false statement. "Harriman claimed that I had been seated for over three hours."
The time difference between when you purchased your meal (based on the time your receipt) and when you
think he called the cops was three hours and eleven minutes.
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The police report attributed to Harriman claims that I had been "boistrous" prior to his calling.
Do any of us believe the always-confrontational, "I'm going to rip your adenoids out the back of your nose", "I like arguing" wasn't at all loud?
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Harriman also claimed, falsely, that there were power cords from my cellphone and computer laying across the table and floor. In reality, there was only one power cord, from my computer. The laptop cable is only one meter in length and ran parallel to one of only two outlets in the room. From the position I was sitting, it would be physically impossible for the cable to obstruct the walkway, because the outlet was located directly behind the booth, proximate to the service area.
Again, your story isn't very solid. First, you say "also provably untrue as there was only one 16 inch cable", but then you tell us your laptop cable was only a meter in length... or more than double that of a 16" cable. Secondly, most tables are designed to be two and a half feet tall. The bottom of electrical receptacles are generally placed 10-14". The generous difference between the table and the receptical, assuming they were both sitting directly above each other, would be about 16". While it seems unlikely that a 16" cord would obstruct any movement, it also seems unlikely that a 16" cord would stretch behind a booth to an outlet some 16" below the table height, or also that a 16" power cable would exist at all. The smallest I've ever heard of is 2', and that's uncommon. If the cable is a meter in length, then I could see it making the stretch, but it'd be a big stretch... I think you need to provide photographic evidence of the scene, the cord (with a ruler for reference) and blah blah blah.
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Nowhere on the ticket or in the establishment is a time limit or other limitation stipulated for the buffet. Most restaurant patrons on occasion spend two hours or more enjoying their meal, and Harriman's decision to eject me was arbitrary and subject to questionable motivations.
Spending time "enjoying your meal" and being "busy writing a book" aren't the same. I'd think if you're running a buffet, the asshole who wants to occupy a table while writing a book and sucking "free refills" would be the first I remove.
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I have suffered bruises to my forearm requiring medical treatment, damage to my personal effects (clothing, bags, laptop and cellphone), court fees, loss of productive time, and emotional distress. Prior to this incident I had no history of arrest. Harriman's false claims to the Watertown PD are defamatory and damaging to my reputation (and also illegal).
Oh, come on. How could you go after the manager of a store for bruises and 'damage to your personal effects' when the cops were the ones who arrested you? No where did you talk about any physical exchange between you and the manager or his staff. Also,
didn't you spend three months in jail? How does that happen without arrest? Furthermore, you have no reputation to damage; if anything, you were trying to damage his by unjustly accusing him of being a homophobe.
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For these damages and expenses, I expect payment in the amount of $1,000, by check or money order sent to my mailing address above, to be received by November 9, 2012. In the event this matter is not resolved to my satisfaction by said date, it is my intention to file suit in small claims court, and also to file complaint with the Better Business Bureau and local chapters of advocacy groups. In such an event, Old Country Buffet will also be asked to pay all costs of filing and arbitration.
Pathetic.