U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles ADA Claim With Chicago Restaurant To Ensure Equal Access for Patrons With Service Animals

CHICAGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has reached a civil settlement with a Chicago restaurant to ensure equal access for patrons with service animals, as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The U.S. Attorney’s Office found that Castaways Bar & Grill at North Avenue Beach in Chicago discriminated against a woman with a disability when restaurant staff on June 19, 2022, offered to seat the woman and her service dog only in the back of the restaurant, segregated from other patrons.  The woman, who is legally blind and relies on the service dog for many daily life activities, attempted to explain to restaurant staff that such segregated seating due to the presence of a service animal violates the ADA, but the restaurant refused to accommodate her.

Under the terms of a settlement agreement and consistent with penalties available under the ADA, the restaurant’s operator – Lakefront Operations, Inc. – agreed to pay $15,000 to the victim of discrimination and $2,500 to the United States.  In addition, all current and future restaurant staff will undergo training on the obligations of public accommodations to serve persons with disabilities, specifically with regard to service animal obligations.  Castaways will also post a sign near its entrance stating, “This Restaurant Welcomes Customers with Disabilities Who Are Accompanied by Their Service Animals.”

“Service animals are trained to perform tasks that foster autonomy and independence for persons with a myriad of physical challenges,” said John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.  “This settlement should send a clear message that individuals who rely on service animals are entitled to equal access and opportunity in all areas of community life, including dining at restaurants.”

Title III of the ADA prohibits public accommodations, such as restaurants, from excluding people with disabilities from enjoying goods, services, privileges, facilities, and advantages provided.  For more information regarding the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat discrimination, please visit the official ADA government website.  To learn more about the obligations of public accommodations under federal disability rights statutes, call the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301, 800-514-0383 (TTY).

The settlement agreement was reached to avoid the costs and burdens of litigation and does not represent an admission of liability by Lakefront Operations.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Johnson represented the government during the investigation and settlement.