Racist CVS Receipt: $1M Lawsuit Over 'Ching Chong' Slur

A CVS cashier may have thought it was funny to call an Asian-American customer "Ching Chong Lee" on her receipt, but no one is laughing now. The women, a New Jersey native of Korean decent, has filed a $1 million federal discrimination lawsuit against the company and the employee for the racial slur.

When 37-year-old Hyun Lee ordered photos online from CVS, she naturally entered her own name. However, when Lee arrived to pick up her pictures Feb. 7, she noticed someone had changed her name on the receipt to "Ching Chong Lee."

"Honestly I'm just horrified about this whole thing," Lee told CBS2 New York. "It just brought back all the memories of growing up as a minority."

After Lee notified CVS customer relations about the incident, the company explained to her in an email that the only steps it would take to rectify the situation would be for the employee to receive counseling and training. According to Lee and her attorney, the employee was never fired, and is still working at the same CVS location in Egg Harbor City, N.J.

Unsatisfied with CVS' handling of the incident, Lee filed a lawsuit against CVS Caremark Corp., CVS Pharmacy, Inc., CVS, New Jersey CVS Pharmacy LLC and the unidentified cashier. Lee is suing for $1 million because of "injury, mental anguish, severe emotional distress, harm, and damages," that she claims resulted from the employee's receipt, the lawsuit says. Lee and her attorney say they do not know the cashier's race. 

"He should have been terminated immediately," Lee's attorney Susan Chana Lask told ABCNews.com. "She never got an apology. She never got anything further after she complained."

CVS responded to the lawsuit in opaque legalese characteristic of any major corporation fighting a scandalous lawsuit.

"CVS/pharmacy is committed to treating all of our customers with dignity and respect," CVS spokesperson Michael DeAngelis told ABCNews.com. "We have a firm non-discrimination policy. While the allegations in the complaint are not in keeping with our values or our policies, we cannot comment on a matter involving pending litigation."

Lee and her lawyer wholeheartedly disagree with CVS' statement. "If they're committed to treating all of their customers with dignity and respect, we feel they should have a zero tolerance level for this discrimination," Lask said.

A trial date has yet to be announced.