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Writer's pictureSAVAGE ROYALT ENT

Lawsuit Alleges McDonald’s Hired Registered Sex Offender, Putting Young Employees at Risk




A lawsuit filed against McDonald’s and its franchisee, McKinney Restaurant Management, alleges that the fast-food chain put young employees in danger by hiring a registered sex offender, Eric Price. Price, a convicted sex offender with a history of crimes involving minors, was reportedly hired at a McDonald’s in Hearne. He later assaulted a 15-year-old female co-worker and is now serving a 40-year sentence for his third offense.


According to the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Sex Offender Registry, Price was convicted of two previous sex crimes involving minors. In 2014, he received 5 years of probation/community supervision for indecency with a child by exposure, with the victim being 13 years old. In 2016, Price was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and received a 6-year parole/mandatory supervision.


The lawsuit, filed in Robertson County, seeks more than $1 million in damages and claims that McDonald’s and its franchisee failed to adequately screen Price, thereby enabling him to have access to young, vulnerable employees. The attorney representing the teenage victim and her family, William Calderon, is urging McDonald’s to reform its hiring practices to better protect minors working for the company.


Calderon stressed the importance of accountability, stating, “McDonald’s is the kind of place where a lot of parents... send their kids for their first job—not to have their innocence taken away or to suffer lasting trauma.” He highlighted the responsibility of McDonald’s, as a major employer of minors, to ensure the safety of its young workers by screening employees with criminal backgrounds effectively.


Leiha White from the Sexual Assault Resource Center emphasized the necessity for all employers to prioritize workplace safety and support victims of abuse or harassment. She noted the importance of providing resources and training to help employees recognize warning signs and feel empowered to speak up if they witness inappropriate behavior.


McDonald’s and McKinney Restaurant Management have denied any wrongdoing in court documents, stating that McDonald’s does not oversee the daily operations of individual franchises, including hiring decisions. However, the lawsuit’s outcome could have broader implications for how companies like McDonald’s approach employee screening and workplace safety, particularly concerning the protection of minors.

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