Lawsuit Filed Against South Philadelphia Tap Room Owners For Violating Americans With Disabilities Act

PHILADELPHIA – A lawsuit was filed yesterday against John Longacre, his companies, and the South Philadelphia Tap Room at 1509 Mifflin Street, which he owns, for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The lawsuit is the first to be brought as a result of the Philadelphia Restaurants ADA Compliance Review that was undertaken by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in March 2015, in an effort to evaluate the ADA compliance of 25 of the most popular and frequented restaurants in Philadelphia. The lawsuit also names Longacre Holdings, LLC, LPMG Management Company, LPMG Construction Management, LPMG Financial, Longacre Property Management Group, and Citywide Properties One. 

The Complaint alleges that the South Philadelphia Tap Room is engaging in a pattern or practice of discrimination due to numerous alleged violations of the ADA.  These violations pertain to the restaurant’s entrance and restrooms.  The owners and operators of the South Philadelphia Tap Room did not respond to multiple communications from the U.S. Attorney’s Office informing them of the accessibility barriers that exist in the restaurant. 

“The purpose of the Compliance Review was to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to area restaurants,” said Memeger. “Such an initiative is important in a city like Philadelphia that is widely known for its vibrant restaurant scene.  As alleged, neither the ADA, nor the warnings from this Office were enough to convince the South Philadelphia Tap Room to comply with the law, and the goal of this lawsuit is to see that they finally do.”

The Philadelphia Restaurant ADA Compliance Review is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Coordinator, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, and by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Crutchlow.