WALDORF, Md. — Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights announced a settlement Tuesday with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., resolving allegations that the restaurant chain discriminated against 11 special education students from Dr. James Craik Elementary School during a December 2024 visit to its Waldorf location.
The students, enrolled in the school’s SORE and ACHIEVE programs for children with developmental disabilities, were participating in a community-based instruction outing to practice social and life skills. Teachers reported the group faced lengthy delays and mistreatment because of the students’ disabilities, violating Maryland public accommodation law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, which require businesses to provide full and equal access to goods and services regardless of disability.
After the incident, the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division launched an investigation and the MCCR issued a commission-initiated complaint. The two agencies collaborated throughout the probe. Cracker Barrel denied the allegations but agreed to settle the matter without admitting liability or proceeding to litigation.
The settlement requires Cracker Barrel to pay $75,000 directly to the 11 affected students, distributed as $7,500 per child. The company will also donate $17,500 to Dr. James Craik Elementary School to purchase adaptive classroom technology, including communication devices and interactive software tailored for students with developmental disabilities. Additionally, Cracker Barrel will reimburse the school $446.56 for meals and transportation costs from the day of the visit and contribute $9,000 to Maryland’s Civil Rights Enforcement Fund for statewide education and outreach programs.
Perhaps the broadest impact comes from Cracker Barrel’s commitment to revise and strengthen its nationwide public accommodation policy to better align with state and federal disability rights requirements.
“When businesses break the law and fail to treat people with disabilities with the dignity and respect they deserve, my Office will step in and hold them accountable,” Attorney General Brown said. “This settlement compensates these students and their school while requiring Cracker Barrel to update its policies — advancing inclusion and accessibility not just across Maryland, but across the entire country.”
MCCR Executive Director Cleveland L. Horton II called the agreement a reaffirmation of shared responsibility. “Every child, every family, and every Marylander deserves to move through our communities with dignity, respect, and full inclusion,” Horton said. “When harm occurs, we do not look away — we confront it with truth, with accountability, and with a steadfast commitment to building a state where our shared humanity is never in question.”
The announcement praised parents for their advocacy and thanked Charles County Public Schools leadership for support. Officials also recognized Civil Rights Division staff members Chief Jonathan M. Smith, Assistant Attorneys General Janee Fountain and Julianne Cozzetto, Deputy Chief Rashida Ogletree, Chief Investigator Latonya Bishop, and MCCR Civil Rights Officer Lead Rafiel Bowen for their investigative work.
The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, established in 1968, investigates discrimination complaints in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division enforces state anti-discrimination laws and frequently partners with MCCR on complex cases. This settlement marks another example of that collaboration protecting Maryland residents with disabilities in public spaces.
Total financial terms exceed $101,000 when combining student compensation, school donation, reimbursement, and state fund contribution. The policy changes apply to all Cracker Barrel locations nationwide, potentially affecting service standards at the chain’s more than 660 restaurants in 44 states.
