Posted on 06/01/2016 7:39:25 AM PDT by Wolfie
Blind Louisiana Man Sues McDonald's for Refusing Him Drive-Thru Service
McDonald's has until mid-June to respond to a federal lawsuit accusing it of discrimination for refusing to serve blind customers who walk up during late-night hours when only the drive-thru window is open.
The plaintiff, Scott Magee of Metairie, Louisiana, said in court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago that he was laughed at and turned away from the drive-thru window at a McDonald's in the New Orleans suburb late at night last August. It wasn't the first time that had happened, Magee alleged.
Many McDonald's restaurants nationwide continue service through their drive-thru windows late at night after the main restaurant entrance has closed.
But the company's policy is not to serve pedestrians at the drive-thru, and blind customers can't drive, so they're effectively barred from patronizing the world's largest fast food chain by revenue, according to the suit, which seeks class-action status for all blind Americans who may have had difficulty ordering at McDonald's.
"While McDonald's sighted customers can independently browse, select, and pay for products at Defendant's drive-thrus without the assistance of others, blind people must hope for a companion with a car or paid taxi services to assist them in selecting and purchasing McDonald's food," according to the suit.
The suit says it wouldn't take much for the company to make its drive-thru windows work for blind people, "given the sophistication and size of McDonald's Corporation as well as the advanced technological society in which we live today."
After all, the chain recently managed to start providing all-day breakfast, "to the awe of McDonald's aficionados everywhere," it says.
The suit seeks a jury trial on its demands for "modest accommodations" to make its services available to the blind at all times, a formal declaration that McDonald's violated the Americans With Disabilities Act and unspecified court costs and attorneys' fees.
Senior U.S. District Judge Joan B. Gottschall gave McDonald's until June 17 to respond.
The company's corporate office in Oak Brook, Illinois, said that as a matter of policy, "we do not comment on pending litigation.
This kind of reminds me of the old joke “what did the blind man say when he walked past a fish market?”
Take a guess!
If he is blind, how did he know it was a McDonald’s?
After all, the chain recently managed to start providing all-day breakfast, “to the awe of McDonald’s aficionados everywhere,” it says.”
Is anyone else completely flummoxed, that this was wording in the announcement of the suit? The wording that people were awed that McD started all day breakfast?? Really??? The world was in “awe” at that development???
He reached into his bag for his hamburger and only felt fries?
The best one I’ve seen is Braille buttons at drive up ATMs.
(worthless) Government (regulation) at work - ain't big government grand.
So he wants McDonald to construct and maintain a new additional after hours window, only for blind people?
Between a Second window, and making additional bathrooms to accommodate the Transgenders, they will either go broke, or have to stop offering certain features to anybody.
If this blind gentleman wants a Big Mac, then get there before the main serving area is closed!
There's a "dat boi" joke in there somewhere, but I'll let someone else find it
The Benefit of LIFE-IN-the West. YEE-HAW!
LOL
They won’t serve motorcycles at the drive up either
Closing the drive thru before the inside means longer hours for clean up for the employees which in turn means the price of a burger goes up.
Another victim group is formed!
What about people riding them?
“Clearly the person needs to sue the state of Louisiana for not issuing drivers’ licenses to blind people.”
Well, why not? Michigan sells hunting licenses to the blind!
So, if the idiot stick were hit by a car, i wonder who he’d sue? Dumb, dead, and blind is no way to go through life, son.
Hello, Hillary!
One time before I retired on our way back from a call during a busy late night I decided to buy my crew ice cream cones for jobs well done. The McDonalds in our district was open, but only their drive-through. The fire truck of course will not fit through the drive through. I knocked on their door, one of the employees came to it and refused to take our order and said we couldn’t use the drive through either. I was just going to give up, but a car with three women on their way back from the Casino apparently saw my long face as I left the McDonald’s door. They bought us all ice cream cones and refused to take our money.
I talked to the manager about it afterwards and he said that it violated McDonalds policy and they would get in trouble if they served someone in the drive through without a motor vehicle.
These days, “awe” isn’t awe it’s cracked up to be. Deflation?
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