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American Girl Place latest target for lawsuit over ADA bathroom accessibility rules
http://cookcountyrecord.com/stories...lawsuit-over-ada-bathroom-accessibility-rules
American Girl’s Chicago retail store has become the latest Chicago business hit with a lawsuit brought by a so-called “tester,” who has also similarly targeted dozens of other public storefronts, this time alleging the retailer’s popular Michigan Avenue doll store isn’t properly designed or equipped to handle people with disabilities, as required by federal law.
On June 22, plaintiff Howard Cohan filed suit in Chicago federal court against American Girl Retail Inc., alleging the Chicago American Girl Place store’s restrooms fall short of the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the lawsuit, Cohan, acting as a so-called tester, visited the American Girl Place store at Chicago’s Water Tower Place in August 2015. According to the complaint, Cohan is a man with “numerous disabilities, including spinal stenosis, which causes a restriction to his spinal canal, resulting in a neurological deficit.”
The lawsuit alleged Cohan, on his visit, discovered several alleged violations of the ADA accessibility requirements in the Chicago American Girl store’s men’s restroom and family restroom. Specifically, the complaint said Cohan discovered restroom doors that were too difficult to open; urinals and toilets that were too tall; a lack of grab bars in stalls; and improperly positioned toilet paper dispensers, among others.
The complaint acknowledged Cohan visited the store specifically “for the purpose of discovering, encountering and engaging discrimination against the disabled in public accommodations” at the store.
Cohan is represented in the action by attorney Jason Weiss, of Weiss Law Group, of Coral Springs, Fla.
In the lawsuit, Cohan is described as a resident of Palm Beach County, Fla.
However, Cohan has served as such a tester in numerous other lawsuits filed in Chicago federal court against a number of other businesses. In 2015, for instance, Cohan, working primarily with the Chicago law firm of Jacobson and Tchernev, filed 21 such ADA accessibility actions against local businesses in Chicago federal court. Through the first three months of this year, federal court records had indicated Cohan had filed 10 more such actions against local businesses.
Cohan’s most recent complaint against American Girl asked a federal judge to order American Girl to correct the alleged shortcomings, and award attorney fees and “other expenses of suit” to Cohan’s lawyer.
The lawsuit also noted the U.S. Department of Justice could also take legal action against the doll seller, which could result in civil penalties of “up to $55,000 for the first violation and $110,000 for each subsequent violation.”
The American Girl Place at 835 N. Michigan Avenue ranks among Chicago’s most popular retail destinations, and is itself a tourist destination. Several hotels, for instance, advertise packages in partnership with the store targeted at those coming to Chicago to shop at and experience the store and its associated offerings.
Disabled man sues over restroom at Chicago's American Girl store
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-american-girl-disabled-0625-biz-20160624-story.html
American Girl sells a $38 wheelchair for its dolls, but a disabled Florida man says the retailer isn't so inclusive when it comes to the men's bathroom in its downtown Chicago store.
Howard Cohan, whose disabilities include spinal stenosis, is suing American Girl Retail Inc., saying its North Michigan Avenue location doesn't comply with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
Cohan, who lives in Palm Beach County, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Chicago's federal court, saying, for example, that the men's restroom doesn't provide a urinal that's low to the ground, and doesn't have grab bars, coat hooks, mirrors and toilet paper and paper towel dispensers in places where a disabled person can reach them.
He visited the store on Aug. 29, 2015, and spent $12 on two Bitty's Bottle two-packs, according to a receipt filed with the court.
http://cookcountyrecord.com/stories...lawsuit-over-ada-bathroom-accessibility-rules
American Girl’s Chicago retail store has become the latest Chicago business hit with a lawsuit brought by a so-called “tester,” who has also similarly targeted dozens of other public storefronts, this time alleging the retailer’s popular Michigan Avenue doll store isn’t properly designed or equipped to handle people with disabilities, as required by federal law.
On June 22, plaintiff Howard Cohan filed suit in Chicago federal court against American Girl Retail Inc., alleging the Chicago American Girl Place store’s restrooms fall short of the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the lawsuit, Cohan, acting as a so-called tester, visited the American Girl Place store at Chicago’s Water Tower Place in August 2015. According to the complaint, Cohan is a man with “numerous disabilities, including spinal stenosis, which causes a restriction to his spinal canal, resulting in a neurological deficit.”
The lawsuit alleged Cohan, on his visit, discovered several alleged violations of the ADA accessibility requirements in the Chicago American Girl store’s men’s restroom and family restroom. Specifically, the complaint said Cohan discovered restroom doors that were too difficult to open; urinals and toilets that were too tall; a lack of grab bars in stalls; and improperly positioned toilet paper dispensers, among others.
The complaint acknowledged Cohan visited the store specifically “for the purpose of discovering, encountering and engaging discrimination against the disabled in public accommodations” at the store.
Cohan is represented in the action by attorney Jason Weiss, of Weiss Law Group, of Coral Springs, Fla.
In the lawsuit, Cohan is described as a resident of Palm Beach County, Fla.
However, Cohan has served as such a tester in numerous other lawsuits filed in Chicago federal court against a number of other businesses. In 2015, for instance, Cohan, working primarily with the Chicago law firm of Jacobson and Tchernev, filed 21 such ADA accessibility actions against local businesses in Chicago federal court. Through the first three months of this year, federal court records had indicated Cohan had filed 10 more such actions against local businesses.
Cohan’s most recent complaint against American Girl asked a federal judge to order American Girl to correct the alleged shortcomings, and award attorney fees and “other expenses of suit” to Cohan’s lawyer.
The lawsuit also noted the U.S. Department of Justice could also take legal action against the doll seller, which could result in civil penalties of “up to $55,000 for the first violation and $110,000 for each subsequent violation.”
The American Girl Place at 835 N. Michigan Avenue ranks among Chicago’s most popular retail destinations, and is itself a tourist destination. Several hotels, for instance, advertise packages in partnership with the store targeted at those coming to Chicago to shop at and experience the store and its associated offerings.
Disabled man sues over restroom at Chicago's American Girl store
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-american-girl-disabled-0625-biz-20160624-story.html
American Girl sells a $38 wheelchair for its dolls, but a disabled Florida man says the retailer isn't so inclusive when it comes to the men's bathroom in its downtown Chicago store.
Howard Cohan, whose disabilities include spinal stenosis, is suing American Girl Retail Inc., saying its North Michigan Avenue location doesn't comply with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
Cohan, who lives in Palm Beach County, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Chicago's federal court, saying, for example, that the men's restroom doesn't provide a urinal that's low to the ground, and doesn't have grab bars, coat hooks, mirrors and toilet paper and paper towel dispensers in places where a disabled person can reach them.
He visited the store on Aug. 29, 2015, and spent $12 on two Bitty's Bottle two-packs, according to a receipt filed with the court.