Lawsuit: Palatine McDonald's Manager Sexually Assaulted Employees

The manager of a Palatine McDonald's, 1570 E. Northwest Highway, is facing a lawsuit by four female employees who say he sexually assaulted them, according to Ann O'Connell, the lawyer representing the women.

Adriana Cazares, Isabel Pratts who also is known as Alma Perez, Yazmin Rodriguez and Elvira Rodriguez have accused manager Alfonso Rojas of demanding oral intercourse, fondling, digital penetration, and not allowing them to use the restroom until they performed sexual acts on and with him, O'Connell said. 

The four women claim the offenses occurred in the spring and summer of 2012, and filed suit against franchise owners Lawrence and Eileen Kushner, LEK Corporation [owned by the Kushners], and Rojas, in Cook County Court on Jan. 7, O'Connell said.

The allegations were previously brought to the Palatine Police Department in November of 2012, but no criminal charges were filed.

Palatine police Cmdr. Kurt Schroeder said an investigation was conducted in the case, and it was determined there was not enough evidence for the state's attorney to proceed with a successful prosecution. 

Generally speaking, there must be a provable use of force with allegations of sexual assault, Schroeder said, and police were unable to confirm that in this case.

O'Connell said she hired her own investigator. 

"I did have my own investigator, and based on information we found, we believe there was a criminal and sexual assault against all four women," O'Connell said. 

A summons and complaint were served to the Cook County Sheriff's office Monday morning for the Kushner's and LEK Corporation. The sheriff will need to serve Rojas, as he is not being defended by the franchise owners or the corporation they own.

"I also filed against the McDonald's Corporation as a respondent and discovery, which means I have the opportunity to find out if they are vicariously responsible in any way for what happned to my clients," O'Connell said.  

That filing also occurred Monday morning, and O'Connell said it takes up to 54 hours for the case to officially be on record. 

McDonald's said in a prepared statement, "McDonald’s Corporation has not been served with the lawsuit therefore it would be inappropriate to comment." 

O'Connell said she is in the process of subpoenaing video from the fast food restaurant she believes would confirm the accusations of her clients. She stated she has credible witnesses who saw first-hand the offenses Rojas is accused of.