McDonald’s worker accused of harassment

Monday, Aug. 21, 2000 | 11:47 a.m.

A Las Vegas family sued McDonald's Corp., alleging they were verbally abused by an employee at a local restaurant at 3500 East Bonanza Road.

Marlene Santana-Crespo, the mother of Melissa Serrano, 11, Daniel Serrano, 7, and Francis Serrano, 12, alleged a McDonald's employee named "Shauna" told Melissa -- who on March 9, was playing at the restaurant's play area for children under age 12 -- that she must leave because she was "too big, fat and tall to play in the play area."

Melissa responded by saying that she was only 11 and began to cry, said the Clark County District Court lawsuit.

When Francis and her friend "Christina" noticed Melissa crying and asked the McDonald's employee what had happened, the employee allegedly raised her hand in a threatening manner, "as if ready to slap Francis and Christina," allegedly told them to leave in a "loud, abusive and aggressive manner" and called them "little spics."

The suit said the children were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome by the family's pediatrician and Daniel was allegedly prescribed sleeping pills.

The restaurant's operations manager could not be reached for comment on the allegations.