Families accusing Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar in Murfreesboro of denying service to their children using wheelchairs won a $352,000 settlement, the local U.S. Attorney's Office announced July 30.
"The United States alleged that restaurant staff," the press release said, "refused to seat and serve a group of parents and their minor children who use wheelchairs, claiming that the group was a fire hazard."
The incident happened in February when the children and their families were in Murfreesboro for the annual ABLE Youth wheelchair basketball tournament on four courts at Middle Tennessee State University's Campus Recreation building, said Amy Saffell, the executive director for ABLE Youth.
"I'm just glad that this was taken seriously," said Saffell, whose organization is based Franklin, Tennessee. "A lot of times disability issues are slipped under the rug."
The February event attracted 14 teams from all over the country. The restaurant issue pertained to a team from Birmingham, Alabama, Suffell said.
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Restaurant owners agree to adopt new policies and employee training
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar is owned by Good Times Restaurants Inc. The settlement includes $34,000 to each family and an $80,000 civil penalty based on the allegations of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), according to the press release.
Good Times also agreed to adopt new ADA compliance measures, including policies and employee training at its restaurants, according to the press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office based in Nashville for the Middle Tennessee district.
"The parents offered to sit in separate groups even though the restaurant was less than half full at the time," the press release said. "Multiple other patrons walked out of the restaurant after observing the conduct of the restaurant employees toward the parents and children. After the restaurant refused to seat them, the group ate at another restaurant in Murfreesboro without issue."
Title III of the ADA prohibits public accommodations, such as restaurants, from discriminating against people on the basis of disability, or their association with an individual with a disability, in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods or services offered.
“Children using wheelchairs should be able to eat at restaurants just like anybody else,” U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis said in the press release. “We are committed to protecting the civil rights of children with disabilities, including the right to be free from discrimination by restaurants and other public accommodations. The settlement announced (July 30) does just that for the children denied service by Bad Daddy’s.”
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ADA law adopted 34 years ago
ADA became law July 26, 1990, to ensure that people with disabilities have the right to live, work and fully participate in the community alongside their fellow citizens, the press release said.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Tackeff and Emily Harake investigated the complaint and negotiated the settlement in collaboration with the Disability Rights Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
The civil claims in the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability, according to the press release.
Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.
Who to contact about ADA issues
More information about the Americans with Disabilities Act is available at the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY), and via the ADA website at http://www.ada.gov or through contacting the U.S. Attorney’s civil rights hotline at 313-226-9151. ADA complaints may be filed by email to ada.complaint@usdoj.gov .
Source: Press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nashville for the Middle Tennessee district
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Murfreesboro restaurant agrees to $352K settlement over children using wheelchairs complaint
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