LOS ANGELES : Deaf Woman Sues Burger King, Is Hired as Consultant

A deaf woman who sued Burger King when she was refused service at a drive-up window will be a company spokeswoman and help choose restaurants to test electronic ordering devices for the deaf.

Terrylene Sacchetti signed an 18-month consulting contract with Burger King, which also agreed to pay half her legal expenses, her lawyers said.

Sacchetti, 26, will help the company choose 10 restaurants around the country where electronic ordering devices will be tested. The company will offer written order forms at 100 others.

“I’m very happy and surprised,” Sacchetti said of the settlement.

Sacchetti, who lives in Santa Monica, said she drove past the drive-up intercom last year and handed a written order to an employee. She said the worker refused to fill the order, argued with her and threatened to call the police if she did not move her car.

In December, she sued the fast-food chain and the company that operated the Los Angeles franchise where she was denied service. The lawsuit charged violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act requiring businesses to accommodate disabled people in public places.

“It was an unfortunate incident to have happen,” said company spokesman Michael Evans. “We don’t want to discourage anyone from coming to our restaurants.”