Colorado Lawyer Denied Woman and Service Dog Access to Office

posted on Nov 04 by Stacy in the Disability News category

Justice Department Files Lawsuit for Disability Discrimination

The Justice Department has announced that the United States has filed a lawsuit against a Colorado based attorney, Patric LeHouillier, alleging he violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying a woman with a service animal access to his offices. Filed today in a Denver Federal court, the complaint alleges the attorney denied access to a woman, her husband and her attorney because her service animal accompanied the woman. The service animal, an Australian Shepherd dog is trained to provide disability-related assistance.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that individuals with disabilities are guaranteed the same rights and access granted to everyone, and it has prohibited discrimination against individuals who use service dogs for almost 20 years,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the ADA to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and to ensuring that all services providers understand their obligation to provide equal access.”

Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination by lawyers, doctors, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, private transportation providers and other private businesses and nonprofit organizations that provide services to the public.

More information about the ADA and ADA rights and responsibilities as they relate to service animals can be found on the ADA website at: www.ada.gov

More about the case at The Denver Post.