A 14-year-old McDonald’s worker has been compensated millions of dollars after filing a sexual assault lawsuit against a McDonald’s manager who had a track record and had even severed prison time.
McDonald’s Franchisee Settles Assault Lawsuit
A McDonald’s franchisee, Rice Enterprises LLC, agreed to a multi-million dollar settlement in an historic lawsuit.
Extend of Lawsuit Revealed
The lawsuit was brought by a teenage girl whom a restaurant manager assaulted, resulting in a $4.4 million payout from the company.
Manager’s Criminal Background
Walter A. Garner, the restaurant manager responsible for the assault, had a criminal history and was a registered sex offender.
Victim’s Employment at McDonald’s
The victim began working at McDonald’s in Bethel Park at the age of 14 in October 2020, lacking training in sexual harassment reporting.
Garner’s Inappropriate Behavior
According to the lawsuit, Garner made sexual comments and inappropriate advances toward the victim before the bathroom assault in February 2021.
Previous Offence Involved a Minor
Garner was previously listed on Megan’s Law for a prior offense involving a 10-year-old girl, yet was still hired by the company.
Taking Swift Action
Rice Enterprises insisted that they fired Garner as soon as the incident occurred back in 2021.
Compensation for McDonald’s Assault Victim
The settlement compensated the victim, who was 14 in 2021, for the incident that occurred in the restaurant bathroom.
McDonald’s Statement on Doubling Down
“Since then, we’ve redoubled our efforts to ensure a positive and respectful experience for all employees in our restaurants,” claimed a McDonald’s spokesperson.
Zero-Tolerance Against Assault
“Our organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind,” insisted the spokesperson.
Workplace Training
In order to make sure the incident doesn’t occur, McDonald’s introduced “safe and respectful workplace training” in all of its franchises.
Legal Consequences for Garner
Garner, aged 44, pleaded guilty to all charges against him, including sexual and indecent assault, resulting in lengthy prison time for the second time in his life.
Plea Deal and Past Offense
Garner had previously faced charges in the 2003 case involving the ten-year-old girl, where he served time for indecent assault.
Questioning Hiring Practices
The victim’s lawyer questions how a known sex offender was hired to manage teenagers, turning what should be a first job into a nightmare.
America’s Best First Job Turned Nightmare
“For a company to allow a known sex offender to have access to and control over young teens turns America’s best first job into a nightmare for those teens,” said the 14-year-old’s attorney in a statement.
Lawsuit Triggers McDonald’s Workers Strike
The lawsuit played a role in initiating a nationwide strike by McDonald’s workers in October 2021 due to issues of sexual harassment and violence in McDonald’s restaurants.
Arrest Prompted by School Reporting
Garner was arrested in April 2021 after another McDonald’s employee reported his behavior to school administrators, leading to police intervention.
Focus on Victim’s Well-being
The company reassured its commitment to ensuring a positive and respectful experience for all employees in the aftermath of the assault.
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