Taco Bell Locations Inaccessible, Judge Rules
Taco Bell may soon have to make changes at hundreds of restaurants after a federal judge found the fast-food chain to be in violation of disability access laws.
The finding comes in a class action lawsuit dating from 2002 alleging that Taco Bell locations in California do not meet state or federal standards.
In a ruling last week, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton cited a number of violations at a San Pablo, Calif. location that was used as an example of all company-owned Taco Bells in the state.
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Specifically, the restaurant did not provide parking places that were wide enough for wheelchair-accessible vans, the area where customers wait to place their orders was too narrow, entry doors were heavy and tables were too low to accommodate individuals in wheelchairs, among other issues, the judge found.
What’s more, Hamilton said that Taco Bell displayed a pattern of not following its own policies pertaining to accommodating customers with disabilities.
The court will soon decide what corrective action the chain must take.
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