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Blind Louisiana Man Sues McDonald's for Refusing Him Drive-Thru Service
NBC News ^ | June 1, 2016

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: fastfood; louisiana; mcdonalds; metairie; scottmagee
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To: Dilbert San Diego

McD’s officially serves the lowest caliber of the human demographic.

They specifically advertise to blacks and Hispanics and no longer advertise to white people.

I can’t even go into one any more. It’s impossible to understand the hostile order taker, who sounds like she gots a mouf full of crack, plus I do not like being the only white person in a place. Nowadays the hostility is overt.

I have instructed my wife to never go into one and avoid the drive thru, because there they spit in white people’s food unless the manager is standing RIGHT THERE at the moment.


41 posted on 06/01/2016 8:29:29 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan (Don't be a lone wolf. Form up small leaderlesss cells ASAP !)
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To: 1Old Pro

(worthless) Government (regulation) at work - ain’t big government grand.


On a recent road trip we drove down a few miles to Lee’s Landing on the Colorado River. This is where the river trip begins.

They were improving the roads and at one scenic spot they widen it and put in a side walk so people could get out of their cars for the view. They put in about 100 feet of side walk (why I am not sure since there was nothing there).

The point of all this is they also cut the side walk and put in those yellow bumpy things for blind people.

It is a scenic spot, the sidewalks were un-necessary, and who believes a blind person is going to get out of their car for a view, and last if they are blind how are they going to find the bumpy spots?

Providing a short turn out so people could park, I am okay with. But a side walk, then the bumpy things? I am sure there was a rule, but why can’t there be exceptions when common sense would indicate the need for exceptions?


42 posted on 06/01/2016 8:30:13 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN (The government is the problem, not the solution.)
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To: Wolfie

Last and only time I walked up to the bank drive-thru they refused me also.


43 posted on 06/01/2016 8:46:24 AM PDT by Vinnie
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To: Wolfie

1) This lawsuit is absolutely as absurd as they come.

2) McDonalds may as well surrender now, as they have absolutely not a prayer of winning this.

Thank You, George Herbert Walker Bush and the Americans with Disabilities Act!!!


44 posted on 06/01/2016 8:47:56 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Wolfie
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...

So? It's a "drive-thru" not a "walk-up" service. All pedestrians are barred from patronizing the restaurant's drive-thru. That's McDonald's call to make.

McDonald's a business, not a social service!

45 posted on 06/01/2016 8:48:14 AM PDT by DakotaGator (Weep for the lost Republic! And keep your powder dry!!)
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To: Alberta's Child

“If I was a lawyer for McDonald’s, I would name the state government of Louisiana as a third-party defendant in the case ... for refusing to let the blind guy drive a car.”

What’s next, this guy will sue the NHRA for not allowing him to show up and one of thier races and drive a Funny Car?


46 posted on 06/01/2016 8:48:19 AM PDT by vette6387
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To: Wolfie
Yeah - service at the MacDonald's drive through is a basic human right protected by the Constitution....

If they can't refuse such service to him they can't refuse it to anyone - it's amazing how many "blind" customers will begin ordering like this.

47 posted on 06/01/2016 9:04:07 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: Delta 21

Even if I’m wearing my beanie-copter hat?


48 posted on 06/01/2016 9:18:18 AM PDT by Farmer Dean (Never be more than two steps away from your weapon.)
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To: BipolarBob

If you were a buxom babe on a pogo stick you might have had more luck.


49 posted on 06/01/2016 9:23:21 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: fireman15

Next time the McDonald’s is on fire, tell them they have to bring the store to the fire station to get put out.


50 posted on 06/01/2016 9:26:02 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: Wolfie

“Blind Louisiana Man Sues McDonald’s for Refusing Him Drive-Thru Service”

What did he do, ask the guy to check the oil and fill ‘er up with Ethyl?


51 posted on 06/01/2016 9:39:18 AM PDT by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: mountn man
What about people riding them?

Them either ... not at the drive thru ...

52 posted on 06/01/2016 9:40:09 AM PDT by clamper1797 (We are getting close to the last "box")
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To: clamper1797

Not unless they are a transgendered motorcycle ... like a Honda ... or a Kowasuki or a Sucksuki


53 posted on 06/01/2016 9:42:44 AM PDT by clamper1797 (We are getting close to the last "box")
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To: clamper1797

I recently paid for an order at the first window of a McDonalds drive-thru and picked it up at the second window. I asked the person there if she could just throw away my receipt as I held it out towards her and she said that they could not take anything inside through the pick-up window. So, I threw it on the ground where whoever sweeps the parking lot would find it.


54 posted on 06/01/2016 9:45:57 AM PDT by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: Wolfie

I guess McD’s rules must vary a bit around the country because I’ve seen motorcycles, bicycles, people on horseback, and Amish buggies at their drive-thrus.


55 posted on 06/01/2016 9:48:54 AM PDT by chaosagent (Remember, no matter how you slice it, forbidden fruit still tastes the sweetest!)
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To: Wolfie

Blind or Legally Blind?

If he was completely Blind they could have told him he was Wendy’s.


56 posted on 06/01/2016 10:15:54 AM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Anyone catch the There is nothing Democratic about the Democrat Party. (Or the GOPe))
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To: Kickass Conservative

AT Wendy’s. So much for the Joke...


57 posted on 06/01/2016 10:16:39 AM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Anyone catch the There is nothing Democratic about the Democrat Party. (Or the GOPe))
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To: Wolfie

A better idea is to due the US government for printing bills that are not ada-compliant. Counting money is the abslutely quintessential american entertainment that nobody should be denied.


58 posted on 06/01/2016 10:17:14 AM PDT by Greensea
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To: polymuser

I hurt myself laughing on that one!!!!!!!!!!!


59 posted on 06/01/2016 10:20:09 AM PDT by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
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To: rarestia

Robberies. Thugs ordering on the comm box like a driver, then shooting/brandishing a gun at the window when the seller opens it..

Much harder to do if the car is there, and the camera records the car license plate.


60 posted on 06/01/2016 10:24:36 AM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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