Restaurant Fined for Discrimination Against Disabled Veteran

A Kentucky restaurant has been fined $25,000 for denying service to a disabled Navy veteran accompanied by her service dog, according to officials.

The Lexington Fayette County Human Rights Commission concluded that Oasis Mediterranean Restaurant and its owner, Ahmad Sarah, violated anti-discrimination laws after dismissing Sarah Van Voren and her service dog, Mooney, from their establishment in March 2023.

The hearing officer described the incident as both “intentional and serious,” a ruling that the committee formally accepted on September 15.

This decision was first reported by the Lexington Herald Leader.

Van Voren, who is a teacher at Fayette County Public Schools, submitted her complaint last year after being barred from using the restroom and the buffet with her service dog.

The commission conducted an investigation, leading to a probable cause finding that resulted in a hearing.

Officials decided that Sarah unlawfully discriminated against Van Voren by failing to accommodate her disability.

Reports indicated that Sarah physically blocked Van Voren and Mooney from accessing the buffet as they tried to go to the restroom.

Sarah told Van Voren that Mooney was not permitted to stay, prompting Van Voren to record the incident on her phone. This recording supported the claims of discrimination.

The commission noted, “The violation stemmed from the fact that Van Voren has a disability and her service animal, but Oasis refused access to the restaurant’s facilities.”

Sarah defended his actions by citing food safety concerns linked to health department regulations. Yet, the Lexington Fayette County Health Department specifically allows service animals in dining areas, including buffets.

The hearing officer reported that Sarah showed no remorse, instead suggesting that he didn’t need to be polite to someone creating a disruption in his restaurant.

Interestingly, Sarah argued that he only denied access to the service dog, not to Van Voren herself. But officers pointed out that denying service to the animal effectively excludes the person as well.

Raymond Sexton, the executive director of the Human Rights Commission, highlighted that this case underlines the legal protections provided to disabled individuals in Kentucky. He characterized the outcome as a significant win for both the commission and Van Voren.

“Van Voren simply wanted to enjoy a nice lunch with her service dog,” Sexton remarked.

The reported case indicates a broader reminder that disabilities manifest in various forms, both seen and invisible, and that anti-discrimination laws are meant to ensure equal access to necessary services.

The hearing officer deemed the $25,000 fine appropriate, given the willful nature of the violation.

Neither Van Voren nor Sarah provided immediate comments regarding the ruling.

In a related note, another client named Daniel Burton lodged a complaint in June 2024 alleging similar discrimination. Burton, who is visually impaired and uses a service dog named Violet, also claimed he was denied access to the buffet. That case remains pending.

The officer’s report emphasizes that restaurants must comply with service animal laws, both under Kentucky regulations and federal disability legislation, which protects access to public spaces for individuals with service dogs.

The committee officially adopted the ruling on September 15, and Sarah has a 30-day window to appeal the decision in Fayette Circuit Court.

In the meantime, the operational order mandates that Oasis pay Van Voren $25,000 in damages. The ruling did not clarify any potential penalties that could arise from Burton’s separate complaint.

The report also noted Sarah’s resistance to compliance throughout the legal process, which contributed to the hefty fine.