WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2012—Today, the Equal Rights Center (ERC), a national non-profit civil rights organization, and four franchisees who independently own and operate seven McDonald’s brand franchised restaurants in Washington, D.C. (Ram Foods, Inc. Furr, Inc., FEC Enterprises, LLC, and Welburn Enterprises, Inc.) announced efforts to make their restaurants even more accessible to customers with disabilities.

“The Equal Rights Center applauds McDonald’s and these franchisees for their commitment to serving all patrons and for making their restaurants even more accessible for customers with disabilities,” said Don Kahl, Executive Director of the Equal Rights Center.

These franchisees will make certain architectural modifications at their restaurants or will remodel or rebuild the restaurants. These efforts resolve a federal accessibility lawsuit filed by the Equal Rights Center in 2011.

“We appreciate McDonald’s assistance in bringing the ERC and the franchisees together to work on their mutual goal of enhancing customer accessibility,” said Elaine Gardner, Disability Rights Director at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs. “McDonald’s and its franchisees have demonstrated their commitment to providing facilities that all people in the Washington, D.C. community can enjoy.”

The Equal Rights Center has been represented in this matter by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs and the Washington law firm Relman, Dane & Colfax PLLC.

About the Equal Rights Center (www.equalrightscenter.org)
Originally formed in 1983, the Equal Rights Center (ERC) is a national non-profit civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C. With members located in every state and the District of Columbia, the ERC works nationally to promote equal opportunity in housing, employment, disability rights, immigrant rights, and access to public accommodations and government services for all protected classes under federal, state, and local laws.

About the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (www.washlaw.org/)
The Washington Lawyers&rsquo Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs was established in 1968 to provide pro bono legal services to address issues of discrimination and entrenched poverty. Since its founding, the Committee has handled more than 5,000 cases on behalf of individuals and advocacy organizations in the areas of equal employment, fair housing, public accommodations, public education, asylum and refugee rights, and disability rights.

About Relman Dane & Colfax PLLC (www.relmanlaw.com)
Relman, Dane & Colfax is a civil rights law firm based in Washington, D.C., with additional offices in Ohio and New Mexico. We litigate civil rights cases in the areas of housing, lending, employment, public accommodations, education, and police accountability. Our national practice includes individual and class action lawsuits on behalf of plaintiffs who have suffered discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, national origin, color, religion, sex, disability, age, familial status, source of income, and sexual orientation.