Conway Cook Out reaches settlement over service refusal complaint

The Conway Cook Out restaurant agreed to a settlement after a complaint of refused services was made to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The complaint, made in August 2014, alleged that a man attempted to obtain service at the Cook Out, but was refused because he was accompanied by his service animal, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The settlement agreement concludes an investigation that began in August 2014 at the Cook Out on U.S. 501 in Conway. 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,” according to the agreement.

The Conway eatery adopted an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant service animal policy, the release said.

The agreement is part of a larger effort by the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce ADA regulations and raise awareness about ADA requirements in restaurants, the release said.

“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,” said Bill Nettles, U.S. Attorney.

The ADA prohibits private and public businesses to discriminate against people with disabilities, including people with service animals. The act requires organizations and businesses to “allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed.”

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Conway Cook Out reaches settlement over service refusal complaint."