Cracker Barrel agrees to pay college students allegedly denied service over incapacity

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Following an virtually yearlong investigation, Cracker Barrel has settled with a Maryland college to resolve allegations of discrimination towards particular schooling college students.

In Dec. 2024, 11 college students at Dr. James Craik Elementary Faculty had been on a area journey as a part of a community-based program to assist disabled college students apply social and life abilities.

Academics alleged that the group skilled delays and had been mistreated while dining at the Cracker Barrel in Waldorf.

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Maryland’s lawyer basic, Anthony Brown, introduced Monday that Cracker Barrel and the Maryland Fee on Civil Rights (MCCR) had reached an settlement.

Every pupil will obtain $7,500 and be refunded for the meal. As well as, Cracker Barrel has agreed to "revise and strengthen its insurance policies," in response to a press launch.

Cracker Barrel has reached a settlement over allegations that college students with disabilities had been mistreated, in response to an announcement this week. (Richard Beetham for Fox Information Digital)

Cracker Barrel additionally plans to donate $17,500 to the varsity’s expertise applications which can be geared towards supporting college students with developmental disabilities.

As well as, the favored restaurant chain will contribute $9,000 to Maryland’s Civil Rights Enforcement Fund .

Fox Information Digital reached out to Cracker Barrel for remark.

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Across the time of the incident, group members protested outside the restaurant .

They demanded an apology and requested for modifications, with Cracker Barrel representatives telling News4 a staffing delay that day induced the "confusion."

Every of the scholars concerned within the case (not pictured) will obtain $7,500 and be refunded for the meal — and Cracker Barrel has agreed to "revise and strengthen its insurance policies." (Jeffrey Greenberg/Common Photographs Group by way of Getty Photographs))

"This settlement compensates these college students and their college, whereas requiring Cracker Barrel to replace its insurance policies — advancing inclusion and accessibility not simply throughout Maryland, however throughout all the nation," stated Brown.

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Maria Navarro, faculties superintendent, instructed Fox Information Digital in an announcement she appreciates "the diligence" of each the lawyer basic and MCCR.

"No youngster, no matter their background or talents, ought to face discrimination in any setting of any type," stated Navarro. "I admire the help our college students, their households and our faculty employees acquired via this incident, in addition to via the investigation course of."

Cracker Barrel has warned its turnaround is transferring at a slower tempo than hoped after the corporate was mired in controversy over the summer season after a rebranding. (Richard Beetham for Fox Information Digital)

She stated community-based educational actions for college students will proceed.

Throughout an earnings call that Cracker Barrel held Tuesday, CEO Julie Felss Masino warned the turnaround is transferring at a slower tempo than hoped, after the corporate was mired in controversy over the summer season after a rebranding, as FOX Enterprise reported.

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"As you're all conscious, the previous few months have been troublesome for Cracker Barrel and for our 70,000 workforce members across the nation," Masino stated.

"We actually have extra work to do," stated the corporate's CEO this week, "to regain the belief and confidence of [guests] who've been slower to return." (Nathan Howard/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs; Cracker Barrel)

"And whereas a lot of our visitors are having fun with our improved meals and visitor expertise, we actually have extra work to do to regain the belief and confidence of others who've been slower to return."