Crime & Safety
McDonald's Franchise Settles Claim It Refused To Allow Service Dog In Restaurant
McPal, Inc. agreed to provide training and awareness to employees at its Canton restaurant.
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The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has reached a settlement agreement with McPal, Inc., a franchisee of McDonald’s, to resolve allegations that it violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to allow the use of a service dog by a person with a disability.
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“This settlement agreement ensures that those who are assisted by service animals will enjoy the same service as all citizens, and we hope it ensures that the same will occur at other restaurants as well,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Horn.
The investigation started when a resident filed a complaint with the federal government, which stated her son is an individual with a disability that requires the use of a service dog for assistance.
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The woman and her family visited a McDonald’s restaurant in Canton, and were ”met by a restaurant manager who refused to allow the service animal into the establishment,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in its press release.
Despite the complainant’s explanation that the dog was a service animal, the manager insisted that the animal could not remain in the facility, the office added.
Under the settlement agreement, the McDonald’s franchisee agreed that it will provide at least one hour of training regarding the ADA to its customer service employees and that it will also provide each employee a copy of its Service Animal Policy. All new employees will also receive this training.
The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. Under the ADA, privately owned businesses that serve the public are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities.
The ADA requires these private businesses, such as restaurants, to allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go.
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