Warner Robins Church’s Chicken accused of discriminating against man, service dog
The owners of a Church’s Chicken location in Warner Robins settled a case that had accused them of discriminating against a man with a service animal, according to a news release Friday from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
The local federal prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into the Church’s Chicken restaurant at 1801 Watson Blvd. after a complainant alleged that “an employee at the Watson Boulevard location refused to serve the veteran unless his service animal was removed from the restaurant dining room, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” the news release said.
Restaurants and bars with no-pet policies are required by federal law to modify their policies when a customer enters with a service animal. Service animals can “go wherever the public is allowed, and a public accommodation may not require documentation about the service animal,” federal prosecutors said.
The owners of the Watson Boulevard restaurant — Askar Management Group, QSR Group Holdings, LLC, and QSR Southern Group, LLC — cooperated with the investigation. They agreed to enforce ADA-compliant policies and pay a $2,000 fine, according to the news release.
The owners also agreed not to discriminate against customers with disabilities and to train employees and managers on the service animal policy. They’ll also need to post the policy in public areas, federal prosecutors said.
“Ensuring access for individuals with disabilities, including permitting service dogs, is required by the ADA. Our office is dedicated to protecting these rights and ensuring proper accommodation for all,” said U.S. Attorney Will Keyes. “We appreciate the cooperation by the owners of this Church’s Chicken franchise in Warner Robins in resolving this matter and demonstrating their commitment to customer accessibility.”
