Pittsburgh McDonald's Manager Sexually Harassed And Assaulted Teen Worker, Lawsuit Says

PITTSBURGH, PA — A 14-year-old girl was sexually harassed and then assaulted while working at a local McDonald's franchise that had a registered sex offender working as a manager, a lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit was filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court against the fast food chain and local franchisee Rice Enterprises by the unidentified victim and her parents.

It alleges that Walter Garner was hired as a manager at one of the franchise locations despite his long presence on the state's Megan's Law website. Garner subsequently harassed and eventually assaulted the victim, according to the lawsuit.

"This case is a shocking inevitable result of McDonald's failure to address the widespread sexual harassment and abuse that continues to happen in its stores," said Pittsburgh attorney Alan Perer, who represents the girl.

According to the Megan's Law website, Garner, 42, has been a registered sex offender since 2004. His primary offense was aggravated indecent assault. The website lists his current address as the county jail.

The lawsuit alleges that the victim repeatedly was sexually harassed and eventually assaulted in a restroom while on the job. The harassment occurred from January to April 2021, until the teen told administrators at her school. They contacted police, who arrested Garner. Rice then fired Garner, the lawsuit states.

Rice operates McDonald's locations in Brentwood, Upper St. Clair, North Side, Mt. Oliver, Pleasant Hills, South Park, South Park Township and West Mifflin, according to the lawsuit.

In a statement provided to WTAE-TV, Michele Rice, the company's president, called the allegations in the lawsuit "deeply disturbing."

"We have offered our full support to the impacted employee and are fully cooperating with the police investigation into these allegations," she said.

McDonald's has announced that new sexual harassment policies will go into effect at its restaurants next year.

See the entire lawsuit here.

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