Restaurant hit with $25K fine for refusing to serve Navy veteran with service dog
A Lexington, Ky.-based restaurant was fined $25,000 for refusing service to Van Vooren. Google
A Lexington restaurant has been fined $25,000 for violating anti-discrimination laws after refusing to serve a disabled Navy veteran who was accompanied by her service dog, officials announced.
The Lexington-Fayette County Human Rights Commission ruled that Oasis Mediterranean Restaurant and its owner, Ahmad Salah, discriminated against Sarah Van Vooren in March 2023 when they asked her to leave the establishment because of her service animal, a Labrador named Mooney.
“The offense was intentional and it was severe,” a hearing officer wrote in a report adopted by the commission on September 15. The Lexington Herald-Leader first reported the ruling.
Van Vooren, who now teaches in Fayette County Public Schools, filed a formal complaint after Salah blocked her and Mooney from accessing the restroom and buffet. Despite being initially seated, Van Vooren said she was told to leave when she attempted to move through the restaurant with her dog. She recorded part of the encounter on her phone, capturing Salah instructing her to exit the premises—evidence that supported her claims.
The hearing officer found that Salah “unlawfully discriminated” against Van Vooren by failing to accommodate her disability, noting that barring her service dog was effectively denying her access.
Salah claimed he was acting out of concern for food safety regulations. However, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department explicitly permits service animals in dining spaces, including near buffets. The officer dismissed Salah’s justification and noted that he showed no remorse during the hearing.
“He didn’t think he had to be nice to someone making a scene in his restaurant,” the officer wrote. Salah also attempted to argue that only the dog, not Van Vooren herself, was denied access—an argument the officer rejected as “a distinction without a difference.”
The commission said the $25,000 fine reflected the deliberate nature of the violation. Van Vooren did not immediately comment on the decision. Salah also declined to respond to a request for comment.
Commission Executive Director Raymond Sexton emphasized the broader importance of the case.
“This is a significant victory for the Commission and Ms. Van Vooren, whose only wrongdoing was wanting to enjoy a meal while accompanied by her service dog,” Sexton said. “It’s a reminder that disabilities aren’t always visible, and our laws exist to guarantee equal access for all.”
The commission’s decision may not be the end of Salah’s legal troubles. In June 2024, another customer, Danielle Burton—who is visually impaired and uses a guide dog named Violet—filed a separate complaint against Salah, alleging a similar denial of access. That case is still under review.
Under both Kentucky law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), individuals with service animals are entitled to full access in public spaces, including restaurants.
Salah has 30 days to appeal the decision to Fayette Circuit Court. The commission’s order requires Oasis to pay Van Vooren $25,000 in damages. The ruling did not specify any penalties related to Burton’s pending case.
The officer’s report also noted that Salah repeatedly resisted complying with legal requirements during the proceedings, reinforcing the conclusion that the violation was intentional.
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