Barneys seeks dismissal of civil rights lawsuit

NEW YORK (AP) — Barneys says in court papers that a black customer’s lawsuit should be dismissed because his civil rights were not violated when he was detained by police after buying a $349 designer belt.

The Daily News says the men’s retailer recently filed the papers in Manhattan federal court.

Trayon Christian filed a lawsuit against the retailer last year charging he was the victim of racial profiling. His allegations led to an overhaul of Barneys practices.

Christian was detained for two hours by police on suspicion of credit card fraud without being charged.

In their papers, Barneys said that “simply providing information to the police ... does not subject the informant to liability for false arrest.”