McDonald's Franchisee Settles with Teen Rape Victim for $4M

A Pittsburgh-area McDonald's franchisee has agreed to pay $4.35 million to the family of a 14-year-old employee who was raped by the store manager, a convicted sex offender. The family sued McDonald's and its franchisee, alleging that they knew or should have known about the manager's criminal history. The settlement, announced by attorney Alan Perer, aims to send a message to McDonald's restaurants nationwide to provide a safe environment for their employees. The franchisee will sell all of its eight restaurants to compensate the family, and while McDonald's USA is not being held responsible, the attorney believes the corporation should adopt protocols to govern the hiring practices of its franchises.