Burger King Facing Lawsuit Over Accusation of Turning the Store Into a Drug Market in NY

Burger King was sued by a resident and filmmaker, Kevin Kaufman. He alleged that the burger joint has become an “open air drug bazaar” as it allowed professional drug dealers to operate in its store.

Kaufman filed a $15 million lawsuit against a Burger King branch in New York City for the said allegation. The particular store is located at 106 Fulton Street in the Financial District and the plaintiff said this place is now “a neighborhood in crisis.”

The Lawsuit vs. Burger King in NY

According to The Daily Mail, Kaufman’s lawsuit has named the restaurant in Fulton Street and Burger King’s corporate office as defendants. He said they violated the state's private nuisance law. He is asking the court to order the said BK branch to “stop terrorizing Fulton Street.”

His allegations were backed by photos showing drug users at the site. There were also videos showing fights erupting there. In any case, the Burger King franchisee, Lalmir Sultanzada, is also being targeted in the lawsuit.

Commenting on the suit against Sultanzada, Kaufman said, “He does not take responsibility, he throws it on the lap of the cops instead of hiring security himself and policing his own store. The eight to ten 'professional drug dealers' have set up their 'base of operation' both inside the Burger King and outside of the entrance.”

Illegal Drugs Business on the Site

The lawsuit stated that the Burger King at Fulton St. is being used as a base of operation to sell illegal drugs. It was alleged that these goods are being sold at the store’s entrance or inside the restaurant during cold or bad weather.

Kaufman filed the suit at the Manhattan Supreme Court and he did this to make the place safe and peaceful to live. He has been living on the block for two decades now. The New York Post reported that prior to the lawsuit, the NYPD already made two arrests and 143 calls to 911 related to the said Burger King store since Jan of last year.

Other residents are also very concerned about the situation in the area. One asked how come Burger King is staying in business and is not doing anything about the issue.

Another one added, “Totally agree this city is a mess and Fulton Street in NYC has now full gangs that have taken over the streets. Open drug dealing and harassment of community members. @BurgerKing is housing the gangs and getting cut.”

Photo by: Ja Kubislav/Unsplash