Burger King Ends Lawsuit Battle

Wednesday, January 10th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DETROIT (AP) â€” A businessman has settled a long-standing legal battle with Burger King Corp., agreeing to sell back 23 franchises and to end legal action against the world's No. 2 fast-food chain.

Financial details weren't released, but under the settlement, La-Van Hawkins will sell restaurants in the Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta areas.

The Tuesday settlement comes in the wake of a U.S. District Court's decision last month to throw out claims by Hawkins, who is black, that Burger King acted with racism and backed out on an agreement to allow him to open 225 restaurants in urban areas. Hawkins had sued seeking more than $500 million.

Burger King denied the claims and countersued, seeking more than $6.5 million it says the Detroit businessman owes on a 1998 loan.

The decision to throw out the case prompted the Rev. Al Sharpton to call for a boycott of Burger King and for sit-ins to protest unfair treatment of blacks denied franchises.