McDonald’s owners: Debit card suit has no merit

McDonald’s owners: Debit card suit has no merit

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — The owners of 16 McDonald’s restaurants say a lawsuit filed by a woman who’s challenging their decision to pay employees with debit cards has no merit.

The (Wilkes-Barre) Citizens’ Voice reports attorneys for Albert and Carol Mueller, whose company owns 16 regional McDonald’s restaurants, say the payroll cards “are the functional equivalent of cash or checks.” They say employees consented to the payment method.

The company has filed its response to a class-action suit initiated by attorneys for Natalie Gunshannon. The 27-year-old Dallas Township woman briefly worked at the Shavertown McDonald’s earlier this year. Gunshannon says she was charged $1.50 to withdraw cash.

The company says Gunshannon does not have standing because she never was actually paid with a debit card and never incurred any fee.