The court of appeals affirmed a district court judgment in part, reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded the action for further proceedings. The court held that a restaurant violated the Americans with Disabilities Act where a 45-inch wall concealed its food-preparation counter from wheelchair-bound customers. The court held further that the restaurant did not provide lawful alternative accommodation by requiring that employees show disabled customers samples of food or prepare their meal within sight at a different part of the facility.
Maurizio Antoninetti, wheelchair-bound as a paraplegic, visited two California restaurants operated by Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. The restaurants were arranged so that customers would move along a line next to a counter that contained foods available for selection as part of each customer’s order. The line was separated from the food preparation counter by a 45-inch tall wall. At the end of the wall was a 34-inch-high transaction counter where customers would pay for their order.
