An Apple retail store at 1981 Broadway, New York City, was accused of racial discrimination, according to a lawsuit filed in February, 2011.

Plaintiffs of the lawsuit are Brian Johnston, 34, and Nile Charles, 25, both of them African American, who entered an Apple store in the Upper West Side in New York City, December 9, 2010. A Caucasian Apple employee in his 50s allegedly approached them in an intimidating fashion, invading their personal space saying, You know the deal. You know the deal. The plaintiffs claimed that the employee told them to leave the store unless they planned to buy something or see a Mac Specialist, and then said to them they were not welcome there, saying I don't want 'your kind' hanging out in the store, the lawsuit claims.

Shocked and humiliated by the incident, the plaintiffs reportedly used their mobile phones to record the confrontation, when another Apple Store employee came up to them. Now you have to go. If you want to know why, it's because I said so. Consider me God, the employees said, according to the lawsuit.

The store manager declined Johnston and Charles' request to speak with him.

The lawsuit filing came to light this month, accusing Apple of discrimination under New York and federal civil rights laws. The plaintiffs assert they are entitled to punitive damages due to emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, loss of employment of life, and other non-pecuniary losses.

An earlier lawsuit, 2 years ago in an Apple store in Florida, was of age discrimination by an employee who claimed his promotion was denied because of his age.

Retail Civil rights Florida New York