The U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Settlement Agreement to Resolve Americans with Disabilities Act Violations

The Fill Building Associates, L.L.C., d/b/a Fill Building East, owner of a professional office building located at 27301 Dequindre Rd. in Madison Heights, Michigan, has agreed to make a number of structural changes to the building to resolve allegations that it was inaccessible to individuals with mobility disabilities in violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), announced Daniel L. Lemisch, acting United States Attorney.

The settlement agreement resolves an investigation following a complaint filed by a person with a disability who was unable to access her physician’s office due to architectural barriers present at the building. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the building owners agreed to make renovations to the facility so that parking, office space, restrooms, elevators and other public areas are accessible to people with disabilities.

“When a building is inaccessible, it is essentially a proclamation to people with disabilities that they are not welcomed or valued there,” said Daniel L. Lemisch, acting U.S. Attorney. “This is why it’s so important for owners of existing buildings to understand that they are obligated under the ADA to remove all architectural barriers where readily achievable to do so and why the US Attorney’s Office will continue its vigorous ADA enforcement efforts.”

Today’s agreement was reached under Title III of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by businesses that serve the public. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan will monitor compliance with the agreement until all required actions are completed.

More information about this settlement and the ADA is available at the Justice Department's toll free ADA Information line at (800) 514 0301 or (800) 514 0383 (TTY) and on the ADA website at www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be emailed to usamie.civilrights@usdoj.gov or by contacting the U.S. Attorney's Office’s civil rights hotline at (313) 226-9151.