Restaurant will contribute to disabled teen's expenses, charity

An Arlington Heights family thrown out of a TGI Friday's on Dec. 1 when a manager objected to the presence of a service dog got more than they bargained for after complaining about the incident.

TGI Friday's will make contributions to a service dog organization and to a fund for the teen's medical expenses.

The family considers this an early Christmas present, although the incident caused a great deal of upset for the 17-year-old, who wanted to celebrate her birthday at the Wheeling restaurant.

"What could be a better gift than forgiveness and the willingness to change?" said Sue Greenberg, mother of Laura, who's disabled.

More Coverage Stories Wheeling restaurant apologizes after refusing service to disabled teen [12/4/07]

When the family complained to restaurant higher-ups after the incident, they received more than the apology they had asked for, Greenberg said.

Friday's is making a contribution to the Laura Greenberg Foundation, which was founded shortly after her brain injury in 1997.

The chain also is contributing to Canine Companions For Independence, a nonprofit group that provides highly trained assistance dogs to disabled people.

And Friday's will hold a fundraiser at the Wheeling restaurant, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 12, with all proceeds benefiting the canine group, and will hold ongoing fundraisers for the next five years.

Greenberg declined to comment on the sum of the contributions, citing terms of a legal agreement. When the restaurant made offers and asked the family to sign a confidentiality agreement, the family asked an attorney, Stephen Lane, to oversee the process, Greenberg said.

Laura Greenberg had brought her service dog, Dawn, with identification into the restaurant to celebrate her birthday with her mother and a family friend.

Before the group was seated, a manager told them to leave. He said it was the restaurant's policy that service dogs weren't allowed when an able-bodied adult was with the disabled person, Greenberg said.

Greenberg later was told by Friday's that the employee was mistaken and the chain has no such policy.

Amy Freshwater, spokeswoman for Friday's, said earlier this month the manager had been replaced and the company will be re-educating management on the importance of following Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

"We're absolutely appalled with the situation in the first place," Freshwater said. "This is something we're taking seriously."