New owner of Oasis restaurant didn’t know about service dog discrimination case
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Former Oasis owner fined $25,000 for intentional service dog discrimination.
- New owner Sean Sohal claims no knowledge of legal case before April 2025 purchase.
- Liability for penalty may transfer to Sohal pending legal review by the commission.
The Oasis Mediterranean Restaurant in Chevy Chase, which was fined $25,000 this week for discriminating against a disabled veteran with a service dog, is under new ownership.
Sean Sohal, a native of Toronto, said he bought the Lexington restaurant in April from previous owner Ahmad Saleh, who was shown on video denying service and ordering patron Sarah Van Vooren, accompanied by her service dog Mooney, out of the restaurant.
Saleh had been under investigation by the Lexington Human Rights Commission since the March 2023 incident.
A hearing officer in March 2025 issued a ruling finding that Saleh’s discrimination against Van Vooren was intentional and severe, meriting the $25,000 fine. The fine was upheld Monday by the commission, with Saleh’s lawyer present.
Sohal said Thursday Saleh never disclosed the legal issue.
And a second incident involving a woman who uses a seeing-eye dog is still pending, said Ray Sexton, executive director of the commission. That could result in further penalties.
Service animals, which are covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act, as well as by Kentucky statute and Lexington ordinance, are permitted in dining areas, as are escorted police dogs. They are explicitly exempted from health department regulations that bar pets.
Saleh can be seen in videos telling Van Vooren that she should leave and denying her accommodation, even as she explains that this violates the ADA.
Now, Sohal is left wondering what this means for his business. Sexton has asked the commission’s legal counsel for guidance, but if Sohal bought all the assets and liabilities of the Oasis, then Sohal might be on the hook for the fine.
Sohal said Oasis is no longer affiliated with Saleh. “He still owes me some money too,” Sohal said, from DoorDash revenue that went into Saleh’s account.
On Thursday, Sohal posted a statement on the restaurant’s social media saying the new owners are “devastated” to learn of the incident.
“We want to make it clear that this does not reflect our values or the way we operate,” according to the statement. “We welcome all guests, including those with service animals, and are committed to providing an inclusive and respectful dining experience for everyone.”
This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM.
