A retired judge will mediate at the meeting, Richards's spokesman and an attorney for the customers have said.

"My client hopes to put it behind him, " said Richards's representative Howard Rubenstein. A cash settlement may be part of any eventual resolution.

A time and place for the meeting has yet to be set, according to reports. However, the patrons' attorney Gloria Allred said it was likely to take place in January. She said her clients would use the meeting to convey "the pain they suffered" as a result of his racist tirade on 17 November.

"We are happy about Mr Richards's decision and we commend him for accepting our challenge, " she added. "We look forward to sitting down face to face with Mr Richards, " said Kyle Doss, one of the four people targeted by the comedian.

The 57-year-old actor . . . best known for playing eccentric neighbour Cosmo Kramer in Jerry Seinfeld's sitcom . . . was performing at the Laugh Factory.