Man Sues White Castle Over Booth Size

Kirsty_UK

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/man-sues-white-castle-because-over-booth-size-160126946.html

"Even though we live in a supersized world, bigger is not always better. One devoted White Castle customer is suing the restaurant chain because he can't fit into the restaurant's booths. Martin Kessman, who weighs 290 pounds, complained to management for more than two years after repeatedly knocking his knee into the tables' metal supports. After the 64-year-old New York stockbroker sent a series of letters of complaint to the chain, he received what he called condescending responses. White Castle sent him free hamburger coupons and promised that it would expand its booth sizes. But the booths were never changed and Kessman is now taking his case to federal court. He is suing for bigger chairs and unspecified damages because he says the eatery is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. (He compares himself to pregnant women and the handicapped.) The lawsuit, however, has not put an end to Kessman's love of mini burgers. Now, instead of going to White Castle himself, he sends his wife."

thoughts?!

Tennessee2019

"Me thinks thou doth protest too much???" Why is he blaming a business for him not being able to fit into the booths? He does not HAVE to eat there & maybe it would be a good idea (also a healthier one) if he didn't?

skinnyjeans13

Someone in a wheelchair or a pregnant woman big enough to not fit in a booth would use common sense and pull up a chair... he's ridiculous.

robin52077

if you can't fit into the booth you probably shouldn't be eating the food...

but seriously, they shouldn't have to cater to the morbidly obese. If everything was made sized for them I would be very uncomfortable in any booth because I couldn't REACH the damn table. Booths and tables are made based on the average demographic. If someone falls well outside those parameters it is not the general public's job to change everything.

For example, you don't see a tiny short booth in the corner of every restaurant just in case a little midget comes in, do you? If one did, and couldn't reach the table, could he sue? no, they learn to adapt, they even have whole tv shows about them adapting to the "big world".

Same goes for the obese, don't punish ALL average sized people who have comfortable booths and make them uncomfortable to sit in JUST so YOU can have a booth once in a while.

(all my opinions, and I stand by them)

Helice

wow.
what a deuce.

Kirsty_UK

I'm wondering where it'll end - sueing because the specially adapted motorised bed you had built to carry you're 600lb body wont fit through the door?!

Aid_B

It's the world we live in :noway: :noway: :noway:

At least he got vouchers for burgers, I would have sent him a salad voucher :laugh:

sugarbone

I'd be pissed off if an overweight person expected to me to do an expensive, space-costly renovation just to cater to his unhealthy habits! Pull up a chair or go eat a salad.

Kirsty_UK

At least he got vouchers for burgers, I would have sent him a salad voucher :laugh:

:laugh:

hstallings13

sad that there are people like that out there. Geez oh pete, it's hit choice so I don't see how he has a leg to stand on.

Heidi_Maggott

He should be institutionalised for a little bit because there is clearly something wrong with the way he thinks

KLi531

If he wins, screw my diet. I'm going to get even fatter so I can't fit in any booths and then I'll start suing everyone!! I'll be rich enough to buy a gym and get skinny later...

3shirts

We need to be encouraging people to control their weight as it is a major health issue, especially in the US. The last thing we need is for special dispensation to be made for those who are obese.

If there is a problem for the disabled or pregnant, why aren't they complaining?

rbryntes

Wow. Quite an intolerant group here.

We're not talking about a 600 pound man here, we're talking about a 290 pound man. Obese? Yes. World's fattest man obese, as you all are implying? No.

The simple truth is that companies have made seating smaller to accommodate more seating. Airline seats barely fit a size 12 woman comfortably, according to specifications (and depending on the woman). And I have been in White Castles that did not have a chair to pull up. If the booths are so small the guy is banging his knee every time, why is that worthy of us mocking him? My legs are very long, I'd probably do the same thing, and I dont weigh as much as he does. White Castle must follow ADA regulations too. And again, the guy isn't 600 pounds here. It sounds like he's asking for reasonable accommodations, not to cater to a single person. And what right do any of us have to judge his eating habits? Isn't there enough anti-fat prejudice in the world without it coming from within the community?

And to the person who referenced a "little midget," wow. Just. Wow.

3shirts

Wow. Quite an intolerant group here.

We're not talking about a 600 pound man here, we're talking about a 290 pound man. Obese? Yes. World's fattest man obese, as you all are implying? No.

The simple truth is that companies have made seating smaller to accommodate more seating. Airline seats barely fit a size 12 woman comfortably, according to specifications (and depending on the woman). And I have been in White Castles that did not have a chair to pull up. If the booths are so small the guy is banging his knee every time, why is that worthy of us mocking him? My legs are very long, I'd probably do the same thing, and I dont weigh as much as he does. White Castle must follow ADA regulations too. And again, the guy isn't 600 pounds here. It sounds like he's asking for reasonable accommodations, not to cater to a single person. And what right do any of us have to judge his eating habits? Isn't there enough anti-fat prejudice in the world without it coming from within the community?

And to the person who referenced a "little midget," wow. Just. Wow.

Not so. I am not intolerant of anyone who is overweight. The issue I have is with suing the place just because he doesn't like the way they do something.
Now I agree that I do not know enough of the details to know if they do indeed contravene the law, if so then they should be held to account but if that is not the case then they have done no wrong.
If we assume they have adhered to the ADA, they can make the seats any size they want and people can either like it, or take their business elsewhere. To me it is no different to them using too much sauce in their burgers. If you don't like that amount of sauce, you get your food somewhere else, you don't sue them!

Also, I think you have missed the point about his eating habits. While this is a very tolerant community, we also understand the risks of unhealthy eating and the need for motivation to help understand these risks and avoid them. Making allowance for obese people is putting it in the same bracket as disabled or elderly people, saying it is unavoidable.

hstallings13

Okay, I went and saw the video that goes with the story, and the pics....I don't feel any sympathy for him and dont' see that an entire chain should have to adjust for him. He is not on the same level as a someone with a real issue. Call me mean, but I think he's just out to get his way, attention and probably a nice amount of money. I can see that somethings need to be catered to, but obesity is not one of them, there are hundreds of people on this site proving that it is a choice.

TourThePast

At least he got vouchers for burgers, I would have sent him a salad voucher :laugh:

Awesome! :bigsmile:

The restaurant doesn't have a problem. He has a problem. He should grow a set and deal with it.

StrengthIDidntKnow

At the end of my pregnancy with my daughter, I was at a diner and couldn't fit in the booth. So I asked to move.