Waffle House Incident Leads to Lawsuit
A customer at a Waffle House in Tennessee alleges he was attacked with a stun gun, sprayed with bear spray, and restrained with zip ties after entering a dispute between staff members, according to a recent lawsuit.
Gregory Lynn Hall, age 62, is pursuing $300,000 in damages following the events of May 2024, where he claims he suffered various injuries from the altercation that necessitate ongoing medical care. The lawsuit states he has endured “severe and permanent injuries” alongside “significant psychological trauma,” including anxiety and sleep issues.
In response, Waffle House’s legal team has argued that Hall was “disrespectful and abusive” to employees and refused to leave when requested. They assert that Hall’s violent reaction led security to justifiably use non-lethal force to remove him.
The incident unfolded shortly before midnight on May 4, 2024. Hall entered the Nashville establishment to place an order but soon found himself entangled in a heated exchange. A cook reportedly shouted profanities at him, suggesting he go to a pick-up window instead. When a female employee approached, the cook continued his verbal outburst, demanding she move out of the way.
Feeling perplexed by the situation, Hall questioned the cook’s language, to which the cook responded harshly, asserting the employee was “his crappy wife.” After ordering, Hall stepped back to wait for his food but, feeling uneasy about the altercation, decided to take photos in the restaurant “in case something happened,” as mentioned in the suit.
A security guard soon confronted Hall, asking him to leave, but he maintained he wished to wait for his meal. The guard then retrieved riot gear, returning to spray Hall with bear spray. Reports claim Hall tried to retreat but was pursued into the parking lot, where the guard deployed a stun gun against him and ultimately restrained him with zip ties.
Hall later received treatment at a local hospital. Waffle House shifted responsibility onto Hall for the incident, while S&S Management, the security firm involved, contended that their employee acted against company policies during this encounter.
Waffle House, known for its more than 2,000 locations across the U.S., has previously faced various incidents involving both customers and staff, including fights and other unusual occurrences.
