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Activist sues San Luis Obispo pot shop for gender discrimination

September 29, 2021

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

An Orange County men’s rights activist has sued San Luis Obispo marijuana dispensary Megan’s Organic Market over a “Ladies’ Night” promotion that offers women a 16 percent discount on products every Monday night. [Tribune]

Steve Frye, a former member of the National Coalition for Men, is alleging gender discrimination in a class action lawsuit against the dispensary and its owner, Megan Souza. Frye filed the suit in San Luis Obispo Superior Court on Sept. 16.

In June, Frye entered Megan’s Organic Market during promotion hours and witnessed women get the discount, while the business did not offer it to him, according to the lawsuit.

The suit states Megan’s Organic Market acknowledged in its own advertisement that it could not solely extend the discount to women.

“If you’re a man, and reap the benefits of pay inequality, and also want to redeem this discount, be our guest,” the ad stated, according to the suit.

 

The add shamed men who would request the discount, the lawsuit alleges. Additionally, the promotion reinforced and perpetuated harmful stereotypes that all women are oppressed and suffer from pay discrimination, and all men are oppressors and benefit from pay discrimination, the suit claims.

Frye filed the suit on behalf of himself, as well as hundreds of customers whom the dispensary treated unequally for being charged different prices based solely on sex, the lawsuit states.

The plaintiff is seeking a court order barring Megan’s Organic Market from continuing the promotion, damages of $4,000 for each offense, compensation for attorney’s fees and an order requiring the dispensary’s management and employees to undergo diversity and inclusiveness training.

In the lawsuit, Frye cites a 1985 California Supreme Court decision awarding a plaintiff damages for each offense involving “Ladies’ Night” promotional events at a car wash.

Frye previously filed similar lawsuits against Galaxy Theaters in Atascadero in 2013, the Paso Robles Golf Club in 2019 and Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay in 2020. The first two cases were settled without any judgment against the business, nor monetary damages awarded to Frye. The suit against Virg’s Landing, a sport fishing business, remains active with a case management conference scheduled for Oct. 25.

Court hearings in the Meagan’s Organic Market case are expected to begin in January.


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I think I get the point here but maybe I don’t. The class action lawsuit makes part of me think this is more than just making a point… Sue Megans for what? Could Mr Frye be that much of a narcissist and that greedy? Seems like hes got a history….so maybe hes getting low on funds. Be careful what you wish for Mr Frye…. Must have way way way too much time on your hands with no idea how to put it to good use. More gunk for the courts…..


7

LOL


12

Either a smart opportunist or a psychopath during a very odd time as always, in America, land of the poor majority. Equal, needs to be equal and we lived with disparity amongst populations so, this is fascinating. He should use his podium to tax the rich and make large business not entities to dodge lawsuits and pay reparations. Or denounce offshore tax evading scum bags. Panama papers anyone?


-27

This is what’s wrong with our country in a nutshell. People sue for everything. Just can’t let anything slide.


36

Men, particularly white men, have been oppressed long enough and it is about time someone stood up for us!


3

Reminds me of when Jarek Molski went around filing ADA violation lawsuits in the area and put a bunch of mom and pop shops out of business in the early 2000’s.


54

Exactly…. Didn’t shed a good light on vets like myself.


3

I am so sick of scumbag lawyers and their equally greedy and lazy customers suing anyone for anything just to steal money!


44

Is Megan’s Organics Market tied in with Helois Daysprings?


7

The lawsuit discovery process is the prefect time to find out the true owners of MO.

Naturally a “settlement” with promises not to disparage to other side would keep that info from getting out.


Considering California’s discrimination’s laws I bet a settlement in 6 months or so, with no reveal of who/what’s behind the curtain.


23

Yes it is. There is no way they could get Heidi’s approval otherwise. Word is Helios had a 90% interest, now transferred to his girlfriend. No problem for Christine Dietrich, paid more than the California Attorney General, and the City of SLO. Pretty much open corruption.


10

Reads like, just pay me or I stir up a hornets nest.


37
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