U.S. Department
of Justice
Disability Rights Cases
U.S. v. Township of New Hartford, MN
On October 21, 2024, the United State Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota executed a settlement agreement with New Hartford Township, Minnesota, pursuant to Title II of the ADA. The settlement agreement resolved a complaint from an individual that the Town Hall, used as a polling place, has physical barriers making it inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. The agreement requires the Township to revise its ADA policies, remediate the physical barriers, provide a temporary alternative accessible polling place, and provide reporting.
U.S. v. Fitness International, dba LA Fitness
On October 8, 2024, the United States filed a lawsuit against Fitness International, also known as LA Fitness, for violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The lawsuit alleges that LA Fitness gym and fitness clubs have barriers that prevent LA Fitness members with disabilities from accessing the clubs or using the clubs' pools and fitness equipment. The lawsuit also alleges that LA Fitness has charged extra fees to people with disabilities.
On January 6, 2025, the United States filed its Opposition Brief in response to Defendant LA Fitness' Motion to Dismiss. The United States' brief argues that contrary to LA Fitness’ assertions, the United States has more than met its burden of establishing a pattern or practice of discrimination under Title III at the pleading stage, as the United States’ Complaint provides numerous examples of accessibility barriers that patrons with disabilities encounter at LA Fitness clubs. These allegations support a reasonable inference that LA Fitness' failures to comply with Title III are not sporadic, but instead, are LA Fitness’ pattern or practice.
City of Virginia Beach, Virginia
On April 18, 2024, the Justice Department entered into a settlement agreement under Title II of the ADA with the City of Virginia Beach, VA, a jurisdiction that has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country, many with service-connected disabilities. Under the agreement, the City will ensure the accessibility of its facilities, curb ramps, websites, and emergency management procedures, that it provides effective communication in its programs, and that it trains City staff about the requirements of the ADA.
U.S. v. Los Angeles County
On August 1, 2024, the Department of Justice reached an agreement with Los Angeles County to resolve its lawsuit alleging that the county violated the ADA by denying voters with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in its voting programs, services, and activities when it failed to select and use facilities as polling places that are accessible to persons with disabilities. The lawsuit was filed in June 2023 after an investigation that found the county excluded individuals with disabilities from participating in its in-person voting programs by selecting and using vote centers with architectural barriers. The lawsuit also alleged that the county’s curbside voting program was inaccessible. Under the settlement agreement, the county will work with an independent accessibility expert for three years on site selection policies and procedures to ensure that the county selects locations to serve as voting centers that are, or can be made more accessible during the voting period. The county has agreed to work with the expert and the department to implement recommendations. The expert will provide semiannual reports on their findings to the county and the department.
Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago Inc. v. City of Chicago
On December 12, 2023, the United States filed a Statement of Interest in Access Living v. Chicago, a private lawsuit alleging that Chicago fails to ensure its affordable rental housing program is accessible to people with disabilities. The Department filed the Statement of Interest to clarify the correct interpretation of whether Chicago's affordable rental housing activities are a covered service, program, or activity under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Statement explains that Section 504 and Title II cover all programs and activities of the City, and the law and undisputed facts support that providing affordable rental housing opportunities is a program or activity of Chicago. The Statement of Interest also explains that Chicago is liable for the accessibility of its program or activity even when it contracts with private developers to build affordable housing.
American Council of the Blind of Metropolitan Chicago, et al. v. Chicago
On April 8, 2021, the Justice Department moved to intervene in a lawsuit under Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act against the City of Chicago, and on April 14, 2021, the Department filed its complaint. The case concerns Chicago’s lack of accessible pedestrian signals (APS) at over 99% of its street intersections with pedestrian signals. APS provide safe-crossing information in a non-visual manner to allow people who are blind, deaf-blind, or have low vision to cross the street.
On March 31, 2023, the court granted summary judgment on liability to the United States and the American Council of the Blind under Title II of the ADA and Section 504. The court found that the city had provided APS at only a “miniscule portion of the whole,” and thus had failed to provide meaningful access to its network of pedestrian signals and to ensure that newly constructed signals are accessible. On November 6, 2023, the Department filed a joint proposed remedial plan.
Tufts Medical Center
On February 28, 2020, the United States executed a Settlement Agreement under Title III of the ADA with Tufts Medical Center to ensure physical access for individuals with disabilities by removing barriers at public and common use areas, providing additional accessible patient rooms, and improving effective communication for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing by adding new policies and procedures. On February 2, 2023, the United States entered into a two-year extension and addendum to the Settlement. The extension was necessary because of the COVID-19 pandemic, to allow Tufts to complete barrier removal to accessible patient rooms and for the United States to verify compliance.
The Town of Greenwich Connecticut
On January 4, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut reached a resolution under Title II of the ADA with the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut, to address physical inaccessibility at the Byram Marina facility. The agreements includes improving the accessibility of designated boat slips, and the routes to those slips, as well as other accommodations designed to increase accessibility.
Oasis Texas Brewing Company
On August 9, 2022 the Department (through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas) reached a settlement agreement under Title III of the ADA with RHS Interests, LLC, Comanche Canyon West Commercial Partners, LP, and the Travis County Brewing Company, LLC, regarding allegations that the property’s elevator was inoperable and therefore people with mobility disabilities were unable to use their services or facilities. The agreement includes ensuring that elevators are operable, properly maintained, inspected, and promptly repaired.
United States v. Chicago Baseball Holdings, LLC, Wrigley
On July 14, 2022, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois filed a lawsuit under Title III of the ADA against the various ownership organizations of the Chicago Cubs for its failures to design and construct additions and make alterations that are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities as required by the ADA. The complaint alleges violations of the relevant ADA Standards for Accessible Design, including the 2010 Standards, in a wide range of areas throughout the facility, including wheelchair seating, accessible routes, and other features, elements and amenities throughout the Wrigley Field facility.
Holiday Inn Columbus Ohio-Badrivishal, LLC
On May 4, 2022, the United States entered into an agreement under Title III of the ADA with the Holiday Inn Express Hotels & Suites in Columbus, Ohio. Under the agreement, Badrivishal, LLC, the owner of the Hotel, will provide access for customers with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs, by making physical modifications so that parking, entrances, public restrooms, service counters, drinking fountains, routes to and within buildings are accessible. It will also ensure that the rooms, including bathrooms, that are required and advertised as accessible to people who use wheelchairs are accessible. The agreement further requires the managers, front desk personnel, and reservations staff at the Hotel to undergo training regarding the ADA requirements to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Finally, the Hotel will pay $20,000 in damages to the couple harmed by the discrimination.
The City of Dowagiac
On January 19, 2022 the Western District of Michigan settled an investigation of the City of Dowagiac for failing to make its intercity rail station accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, as mandated by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The agreement includes physical access improvements to the station's parking, accessible routes to the station, toilet rooms, and signage.