Cracker Barrel settles federal lawsuit over handicapped parking

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has settled a class-action lawsuit brought by a basketball star who claimed handicapped parking spaces at some restaurants are too steep or otherwise violate federal law.

Sarah Heinzl, of Pittsburgh, plays on the U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National Team and sued in 2014. She claimed parking spaces at the Robinson restaurant were so sloped her wheelchair would roll away before she could get into it so she’d bring along her mother to help whenever she wanted to eat there.

“That’s exactly the type of thing the Americans With Disabilities Act was supposed to prevent,” Ms. Heinzl’s attorney, Benjamin Sweet told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “It’s supposed to make the facilities independently usable. You’re not supposed to have to bring a family member or a loved one with you.”

Officials with the Lebanon, Tenn.-based chain didn’t immediately comment on the settlement. It received preliminary approval Monday by a federal magistrate in Pittsburgh who set a hearing Aug. 10 to formally approve it.

Under the settlement, Cracker Barrel has 2½ years to fix slope and other handicapped parking problems at 107 restaurants in seven states and up to seven years to fix any problems revealed by courtordered architectural surveys of its 536 other restaurants.