A high-profile case involving a casual dining chain that **denied service to wheelchair users**, leading to significant financial penalties and mandatory policy reform.
In July 2024, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, a casual dining restaurant in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, became the subject of an ADA investigation after a group of young wheelchair basketball players and their parents were denied service during a post-tournament visit. The restaurant staff reportedly told the group that they could not be seated together because their wheelchairs were a “fire hazard.”
The group consisted of eight children who all used wheelchairs, along with several family members. Despite the restaurant being less than half full, the staff refused to seat them an action that deeply humiliated the children and prompted a federal complaint.
The incident was reported to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee by the families, who alleged discrimination under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This title prohibits any public business (restaurants, retail stores, hotels, etc.) from denying equal service to customers with disabilities.
Federal investigators quickly confirmed that the restaurant staff had failed to make **reasonable accommodations**, violating federal disability law under Title III of the ADA.
On July 30, 2024, the parent company, Good Times Restaurants, Inc., agreed to a settlement that included substantial financial penalties and mandatory operational changes.
Payment of $34,000 to each of the eight affected families, totaling $272,000. An additional $80,000 civil penalty was paid to the U.S. government. A requirement for all Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar locations to adopt a nationwide ADA compliance policy. Mandatory staff training and the posting of visible signs welcoming guests with disabilities.
PHYSICAL
ACCESSIBILITY
Focuses on Title III accommodations and staff training compliance.
This case serves as a stark reminder for all public accommodations that **Title III of the ADA** requires both physical accessibility and the provision of equal service. Staff training is critical; simply owning a compliant building is not enough. Ignorance of the law or internal biases leading to the denial of service can result in significant financial penalties, even when there is no malicious intent.