Pittsburgh McDonald's Teen Employee Sex Assault Victim Gets Millions

PITTSBURGH, PA — A local McDonald's franchisee will pay millions to the family of a 14-year-old worker who was sexually assaulted by her manager in a restroom in the chain's Bethel Park location in 2021.

The $4.3 million settlement was announced Monday by attorney Alan Perer, who represented the victim and her family. It ends a lawsuit filed against the fast food chain and local franchisee Rice Enterprises by the unidentified victim and her parents.

The manager, Walter Garner, formerly of Clairton, was a registered sex offender years before McDonald's hired him. According to the Pennsylvania Megan's Law website, he was convicted of aggravated indecent assault in 2003.

Garner, now 43, is serving a four-to-10 year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2021 to charges of statutory sexual assault of a girl age 11 or older. In return for the guilty plea, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office withdrew charges of rape, indecent sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor.

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