McDonald's Franchisee Settles for $4.4M in Sexual Assault Case Involving a Teen Girl

McDonald's franchisee has reached a settlement with a teenage girl, agreeing to pay her $4.4 million in response to a lawsuit she filed after being sexually assaulted by a restaurant manager who was a registered sex offender in the Pittsburgh area, according to the victim's attorneys on Monday.

The assault took place in the restaurant bathroom when the girl was just 14 years old in 2021. The franchisee involved in the settlement, Rice Enterprises LLC, aims to compensate the victim for the traumatic incident caused by Walter A. Garner, who is now 44 years old and had previously served time in prison for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl. 

In 2021, Garner pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, and other charges stemming from the McDonald's assault. He is currently serving a sentence in a state prison. On Monday, a message was left for the public defenders who represented him in both this case and the 2003 case, which concluded with a guilty plea for aggravated indecent assault and other charges.

The lawsuit played a role in prompting a strike by workers in 12 U.S. cities in October 2021. The strike aimed to compel the company to take more effective action in addressing the ongoing issue of sexual harassment and violence in McDonald's stores.

Rice Enterprises promptly terminated Garner's employment upon learning of the allegations against him in 2021, as confirmed by a spokesperson from McDonald's. Subsequently, the company has step up its efforts to ensure a positive and respectful environment for all employees within its restaurants. Rice Enterprises maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of harassment. 

In their official statement, the organization emphasized that they provide comprehensive "safe and respectful workplace training" to new hires and have implemented enhanced security measures. 

The lawsuit reveals that the employee, who was 14 years old when she started working at the McDonald's in Bethel Park in October 2020, did not receive any training on sexual harassment or how to report it. The employee alleges that Garner subjected her to sexual comments and inappropriate touching before the bathroom assault occurred in mid-February 2021.

As per the lawsuit, Garner was taken into custody in April 2021 after a fellow McDonald's employee informed the school administrators about his actions, prompting the involvement of law enforcement.

Attorney Alan Perer, who is representing the girl and her parents in the civil litigation in Allegheny County, has raised doubts about how a sex offender was employed to oversee high school girls.

McDonald's USA expressed deep concern over the assault on the girl, stating that any form of violence or sexual harassment is completely unacceptable. The company emphasized its commitment to equipping franchisees with training resources to prevent harassment.