Two minority franchisees have alleged racial discrimination in a counterclaim filed in response to Dunkin’ Donuts’ attempts to terminate their franchise agreements. The counterclaim alleges that the actions of Dunkin’ Donuts are based upon the color of the franchisees’ skin.

Last year Dunkin’ served Mahendra and Nita Patel, husband and wife owners of four Dunkin’ Donuts shops in Goshen, Harriman, and Chester, New York, with a notice of termination stemming from alleged violations of the franchise agreements, labor laws, and tax laws.

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In the United States, African Americans have higher blood pressure and are at greater risk of hypertension than whites. In addition, African Americans report poorer sleep quality and exhibit a smaller nighttime decrease in blood pressure than whites, a phenomenon called blood pressure “dipping.”

“This ethnic difference in blood pressure dipping may help explain why African Americans are at greater risk of hypertension,” says Dr. Joel Hughes, Kent State assistant professor of psychology, “as a smaller dip in nighttime blood pressure has been associated with increased left ventricular mass and wall thickness in the heart.”

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