***Corrected*** U.S. Attorney's Office Resolves Complaint Against Restaurant for Refusing Service to Customer with Service Animal

Contact Person: John Douglas (843) 727-4381

Columbia, SC– United States Attorney Bill Nettles today announced an agreement with Cook Out – Conway, Inc., which operates a Cook Out restaurant in Conway, South Carolina.  The agreement resolves allegations that the restaurant violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by refusing service to an individual on the basis of his disability. The Settlement Agreement concludes an investigation which began in August of 2014, when a complaint was filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The complaint alleged that a man attempted to obtain service at the Cook Out, but was refused because he was accompanied by his service animal.

Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Cook Out – Conway, Inc. agreed not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of disability and to provide service to all persons with disabilities, including those accompanied by a service animal. Cook Out – Conway, Inc. also agreed to adopt an ADA compliant service animal policy.

The Settlement Agreement is part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice to enforce the ADA and to educate the public about the ADA’s requirements. “This settlement exemplifies the U.S. Attorney’s Office commitment to protecting the civil rights of all citizens of South Carolina, including those with disabilities,” United States Attorney Nettles said.

The ADA prohibits public and private entities from discriminating against persons with disabilities. Under the ADA, state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed, including restaurants, movie theaters, stores, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and fairs.

The Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities to comply with the ADA, including guidance on service animals.  Those publications can be found online at www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm.  For more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act, go to www.ada.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY). ADA complaints may be filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office or online at www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm.

This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney John Douglas.

** The restaurant name was misidentified in the previous press release that was issued on 23 September 2015.  It should have read “Cook Out.”

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