Mom sues over reaction to her breastfeeding

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Kentucky woman is suing Texas Roadhouse after she claims a manager tried to cover her and her infant while the child was breastfeeding inside the restaurant.

Sadie Jackson Durbin of Louisville alleges David Mitchell brought a napkin to her at her table and asked her to cover up because a patron was complaining about her breastfeeding her 7-week-old infant at the Shelbyville Road restaurant Nov. 15. She said Mitchell tried putting the napkin over her baby’s face and her breast.

“You all I am a strong woman. And even a stronger mother,” Durbin wrote on Facebook. “There is not much that rattles me, but as I ly (sic) here in bed processing what happened, the tears continue to roll. I have never felt so humiliated in my life. I WAS FEEDING MY BABY.”

When Durbin tried to find out who the complaining patrons were, she said the manager came back to her table, threw his hands up and angrily said, “I’m not at liberty to tell you that. Listen lady; I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Durbin’s Facebook post has been shared more than 33,000 times since last week.

According to Kentucky law, “A mother may breastfeed her baby or express breast milk in any location, public or private.”

Durbin is suing the restaurant for negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent training, assault and punitive damages.

Durbin alleges the manager caused her fear when he attempted to place a napkin over her breast and her child’s head.

Travis Doster, the Texas Roadhouse vice president of communications, told WAVE 3 Mitchell “meant no ill will and he did not know the law.” He also said the store has tried to apologize to Durbin.