West
Family-owned California restaurant closes after gender discrimination lawsuit for ‘ladies night’ promotion
The family-run Peruvian Lima restaurant in Concord, California served its final meals on New Year’s Eve after being financially crushed by the weight of a recent lawsuit.
Lima found itself in the national spotlight for hosting a weekly ladies’ night promotion. This promotion was a once-common and highly lucrative practice of offering discounted drinks to attract women to the establishment. However, Chef/owner John Marquez told the New York Post that a gender-discrimination lawsuit filed last year has cost his restaurant tens of thousands of dollars as a result.
“We haven’t fully recovered from the recent discrimination lawsuit related to our ladies’ night discount,” Marquez recently told KRON-TV. He suggested further to the media that the people behind the lawsuit probably aren’t local residents, but rather “ambulance-chasing lawyers” looking to take advantage of California’s state laws.
Lima restaurant owner John Marquez slammed the lawsuit that he says brought down his restaurant. (ABC7 News)
MAJOR NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER SUED FOR ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION TO ACHIEVE DIVERSITY GOALS
He similarly told ABC7 News, “It’s a frivolous lawsuit that took us down.”
But California law on the books indeed shows that businesses are supposed to provide “full and equal accommodations” regardless of customers’ identities.
The Unruh Civil Rights Act, a decades-old California law, states that “All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.”
CNN’s coverage of this latest incident cited University of San Diego professor of business law and ethics, Rebecca Nieman, who warned, “A lot of these small mom-and-pop-type bars honestly might not know about this law,” and that this is precisely why such lawsuits are still happening to “extremely small proprietors.”
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A sign announced the upcoming closure of the Lima restaurant.
But more businesses aside from restaurants are facing the consequences of this California law.
The Fresno Grizzlies, a minor league baseball team, faced a similar lawsuit, reportedly being sued for $5-million after they allowed free admission for women for a “ladies night” promotion last year.
The plaintiffs in that case were represented by Alfred Rava, a San Diego-based lawyer who had also sued the Oakland Athletics in a class-action lawsuit over a Mother’s Day giveaway of a free plaid reversible bucket hat.
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Denver, CO
Report: Broncos expected to ‘make a splash’ at running back
The Denver Broncos are in the market for a running back.
Just two days after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Denver wants to have the running back position addressed before the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Broncos are “poised to make a splash” at running back during NFL free agency.
“Denver is the reason why the Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall rather than the transition tag, according to sources, making sure Denver wouldn’t get the opportunity to put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match,” Jones wrote for CBS Sports.
Jones said the Broncos would be an obvious potential landing spot for Kenneth Walker, and he noted that Travis Etienne could be a cheaper alternative. The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider also reported this week that Denver is expected to “closely examine” the RB market, and he name-dropped Walker, Etienne and Rico Dowdle.
The Broncos also have an in-house free agent at RB in J.K. Dobbins, who has expressed his desire to remain in Denver. The Broncos can begin negotiating with pending free agents from other clubs on March 9, but no deals can become official until the new league year begins on March 11. In-house free agents can be re-signed at any time.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Seattle, WA
Huard: Rams’ trade a ‘direct’ response to Seattle Seahawks
One of the Seattle Seahawks’ biggest rivals delivered the first big shockwaves of the 2026 offseason.
Why Salk ‘blanched’ at a Seahawks Maxx Crosby trade proposal
Los Angeles Rams have agreed to a deal that would send four draft picks to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for All-Pro cornerback and former UW Huskies standout Trent McDuffie, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday morning.
McDuffie, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract, is expected to sign a long-term extension with the Rams, according to Schefter.
Shortly after the news broke, former NFL quarterback Brock Huard gave his reaction on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.
“This feels like a direct move to match up with JSN and the Seahawks,” Huard said.
Widely considered to be the two best teams in the NFL this past season, the Seahawks and Rams squared off in three epic battles, capped by Seattle’s 31-27 win over Los Angeles in the NFC Championship.
Over those three games, the Rams’ shaky secondary struggled to contain NFL receiving leader and AP Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks star wideout totaled 27 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns across those three matchups, including 10 catches for 153 yards and a TD in the NFC title game.
Smith-Njigba also had a career-high 180 receiving yards and two touchdowns in an overtime loss to the Rams in 2024.
“It’s kind of like an old NBA world,” Huard said. “Like, alright, we know we’re gonna have to deal with Jordan or we’re gonna have to deal with Pippen or we’re gonna have to deal with Bird. Like, how do we match up? And (the Rams) know that that was the one area – in their back seven – that could not match up.”
Listen to the full Brock and Salk conversation at this link or in the audio player in the middle of this story. Tune into Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
Seattle Seahawks offseason coverage
• What Brock Huard makes of Seahawks’ Ken Walker situation
• A possible replacement if Seahawks don’t re-sign Walker
• Huard: Jobe is most likely free agent the Seattle Seahawks re-sign
• Report: Seattle Seahawks not tendering restricted FA Jake Bobo
• The Seattle Seahawks’ risks with Walker set to be free agent
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
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