Today's Video Headlines: 09/19/25
A Kentucky restaurant was slapped with a $25,000 fine after refusing to serve a disabled Navy veteran because of her service dog, officials said.“The offense was intentional and it was severe,” a hearing officer wrote in the ruling adopted Sept.
15 by the commission.Van Vooren, now a Fayette County Public Schools teacher, filed her complaint last year after Salah blocked her and her service dog, a blond Labrador named Mooney, from accessing the restroom and buffet. Sarah Van Vooren, a public school teacher in Fayette County, Ky., is seen above with her service dog, a blond Labrador named Mooney.The commission launched an investigation and issued a probable cause determination before the case went before the hearing officer.University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling seen dressed as pregnant woman for Halloween — months before newborn found deadAccording to the officer’s report, Salah seated Van Vooren and Mooney but blocked them when they attempted to pass the buffet to reach the restroom.Van Vooren took out her cell phone and recorded Salah telling her to leave, evidence the officer said supported her claims of discrimination. “Specifically, the violation stemmed from the fact that even though Ms. Van Vooren was a disabled individual accompanied by a service animal, refused to accommodate her request to use the restaurant’s restroom and presumably the use of its buffet table,” the report stated. Salah told the commission that his actions were based on food safety concerns, citing health department regulations. But the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department explicitly allows service animals in dining areas, including near buffets. The officer rejected Salah’s explanation, writing that he “did not show any signs of remorse” during testimony. “In fact, he expressed the opposite point of view, in that he didn’t think he had to be nice to someone who was making a scene in his restaurant.” Salah attempted to argue he had denied access only to Mooney, not Van Vooren herself. The officer called that “a distinction without a difference,” ruling that excluding a service animal is equivalent to excluding the person.Raymond Sexton, executive director of the Human Rights Commission, said the case underscored the protections afforded to disabled Kentuckians. “This is a significant victory for the Commission and Ms. Van Vooren, whose only transgression that day was wanting to enjoy a nice lunch while accompanied by her service dog,” Sexton said in a statement. “This case is a stark reminder that disabilities come in many forms, both seen and unseen. Our anti-discrimination laws exist to ensure that everyone has equal access to employment, housing and public accommodations and our office will vigorously enforce them.” The $25,000 fine was deemed appropriate by the hearing officer given the intentional nature of the violation.Salah also did not respond to a request for comment. After Van Vooren filed her complaint, another customer, Danielle Burton, filed a separate complaint in June 2024. Burton, who is visually impaired and uses a seeing-eye dog named Violet, alleged that Salah also denied her access to the buffet.The commission formally adopted the officer’s ruling on Sept. 15. Salah has 30 days to appeal the decision to Fayette Circuit Court. The commission’s order requires Oasis to pay Van Vooren $25,000 in damages. The ruling did not indicate whether further penalties could be imposed in Burton’s separate case. The report detailed how Salah resisted compliance even during proceedings, reiterating that he believed he was justified. That defiance contributed to the size of the fine, the officer noted. Grammy-winning songwriter died with wife, her daughter — who just celebrated birthday — in private plane crashRanting AOC rips Charlie Kirk, leads horde of Democrats who voted against resolution honoring assassinated commentatorCarrie Underwood shares emotional tribute to songwriter Brett James after ‘unfathomable’ death‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Pulled From ABC Airwaves “Indefinitely” After Late Night Host’s Charlie Kirk Commentary
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