Restaurant reaches agreement in ADA complaint
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
KENNEWICK – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached an agreement with the Rock Wood Fired Pizza in Kennewick in an Americans with Disabilities Act that was filed against The Rock in November 2021. U.S, Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref said that the rock admitted they denied service to an individual who required the use of a service animal. She said that the restaurant fully and promptly cooperated with the investigation and agreed to take concrete remedial measures to comply with the ADA.
The owners of The Rock Kennewick admitted that they didn’t have any written policy or formal ADA training for employees at any of their four restaurants. They agreed to implement and utilize a written service animal police and require annual employee training addressing ADA requirements. Further, the restaurant is instituting a grievance procedure for any alleged violations and is posting notices online and at their establishments that service animals are welcome. They will also submit reports certifying full compliance every six months for the next three years to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In addition, The Rock Kennewick is paying the disabled individual $11,000 in compensatory damages. If the owners fail to institute and comply with all the measures, the U.S. Attorney’s Office could seek up to $75,000 in penalties and seek additional remedial measures.
“Today’s settlement sends an important message that compliance with the ADA is essential to making Eastern Washington safe and strong for all,” Waldref wrote in a prepared statement. “We want to thank the owners of the Rock Wood Fired Pizza for fully admitting to their conduct, compensating the disabled person they wronged, and for their genuine commitment to ensuring that going forward discrimination against disabled individuals, including those with service animals, will not occur at any of their restaurants statewide.”
