Kevin and Arazis Slaughter have filed a compelling lawsuit that raises serious allegations of racial discrimination and retaliation. The complaint, lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on February 21, 2026, accuses Sweets and Geeks North Olmsted LLC and Jim McMahan Jr. of violating federal and state civil rights laws by wrongfully accusing the plaintiffs of theft based solely on their race.
The Slaughters’ ordeal began during their two-year wedding anniversary celebration on February 22, 2025. As they shopped at the Great Northern Mall, they were allegedly subjected to discriminatory practices by Sweets and Geeks North Olmsted LLC. After spending time browsing in the store, they noticed an employee following them into another shop, Bath and Body Works, where the employee reportedly stared at them suspiciously. Later confronted by police officers outside the mall, Kevin and Arazis were accused of stealing from Sweets and Geeks two days prior. This accusation was based on surveillance footage presented by the defendants to law enforcement.
However, as detailed in court documents, North Olmsted Police quickly determined that the individuals in the footage bore no resemblance to Kevin Slaughter or his wife except for their shared race. Despite this realization, the public confrontation left both plaintiffs humiliated and emotionally scarred. Kevin Slaughter has since been diagnosed with psychological trauma and PTSD due to this incident.
The lawsuit claims that these actions violated several legal protections against racial discrimination under both federal law—including Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—and Ohio’s Civil Rights Act. The Slaughters argue that Sweets and Geeks’ conduct was not only discriminatory but retaliatory in nature; it was a punitive response to their mere presence as Black patrons exercising their right to shop freely.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, Kevin and Arazis Slaughter are requesting multiple forms of relief from the court. They seek a declaration that Sweets and Geeks’ actions were unlawful under constitutional amendments and civil rights statutes. Furthermore, they demand a permanent injunction preventing future discriminatory practices by any associated parties with Sweets and Geeks. They also call for compensatory damages for emotional distress as well as punitive damages due to what they describe as malicious intent behind these actions.
Representing Kevin and Arazis Slaughter are attorneys Christopher Kolezynski from Kolezynski Law LLC in Parma, Ohio, alongside Avery S. Friedman from Cleveland’s IMG Center. The case is being presided over under Case ID: 1:26-cv-00438.
Source: 126cv00428_Slaughter_v_Sweets_and_Geeks_North_Olmstead_LLC_Complaint_Northern_District_Ohio.pdf
