PITTSBURGH — A black man is suing a Panera Bread franchisee, saying the company running nearly 200 outlets in Western Pennsylvania and other states doesn’t want blacks in visible positions where they interact with the public.

Ohio-based Covelli Enterprises, says the 21-year-old man who filed Wednesday’s federal civil rights lawsuit in Pittsburgh is a disgruntled employee who walked off the job last year for violating company policies.

The lawsuit filed by Guy Vines, of Castle Shannon, echoes claims in a November lawsuit by Scott Donatelli, who claims he was fired by Covelli for objecting to how Vines was being treated.