BALTIMORE (AP) — McCormick & Schmick’s has settled a lawsuit involving allegations of racial discrimination against black job applicants and employees at two Baltimore restaurants.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit in federal court in Maryland in 2008, accusing the restaurants of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The settlement establishes a $1.3 million claims fund for eligible employees and black job applicants at the two restaurants.

McCormick & Schmick’s has also agreed to numerical goals for hiring black job applicants for front-of-the-house positions at the two locations, among other things.

McCormick & Schmick’s said in a statement Tuesday that the settlement was “in the best interest of all parties” and that its mission “has been and always will be, to promote equal opportunity in the work place.”

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