Government, local Wendy's owner reach settlement in disability probe

The government has reached a settlement with the owner of six Wendy's Old Fashisoned Hamburgers restaurants in Cedar Rapids regarding disability violations.

Under the settlement, reached Thursday, owner Parco Ltd. agreed to remedy 96 alleged instances of Americans with Disabilities Act non-compliance involving failure to remove architectural barriers to access by Sept. 30, U.S. Attorney Matt Dummermuth said in a news release.

Parco will also pay a civil penalty of $4,000 to the United States and $7,000 to Peer Action Disability Support of Cedar Rapids.

The Justice Department began its investigation of the restaurants in 2007 after a complaint was filed at one of the restaurants by seven people associated with the peer action group. The department looked at interior and exterior accessible routes, counter and self-service areas, parking spaces and public restrooms.