U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Agreement With Gastonia Hotel To Ensure Access To People With Disabilities

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that federal prosecutors have reached a settlement agreement with the owners of the Express Inn and Suites LLC (Express Inn) in Gastonia, N.C. The agreement requires the owners of the Express Inn to provide access and accommodations to customers with disabilities, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The U.S. Attorney's Office initiated an investigation following a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, claiming that the Express Inn violated the ADA by refusing to provide a room to a visually impaired individual based on speculation about the individual's capabilities.

Under federal law, private entities that own or operate "places of public accommodation," including hotels and other places of lodging, are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability.

The ADA requires that hotels provide access to individuals with disabilities, and a hotel cannot impose or apply eligibility criteria that screen out or tend to screen out an individual with a disability from full and equal enjoyment of any goods, services, or accommodations.

Upon learning of the complaint, the Express Inn cooperated with the investigation and subsequently agreed to remedy its past discriminatory conduct. According to the terms of the agreement, the Express Inn will provide employee training, update its policies, practices, and procedures to comply with the ADA, and provide monetary relief for the impacted individual.

"My office is committed to enforcing the ADA and protecting all civil rights in this District," said U.S. Attorney King, who also leads the Attorney General's Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights.

"People with disabilities have a right to equal access to hotel accommodations and should not be denied lodging on the basis of disability. I want to thank the customer who brought this matter to our attention, and I am pleased that the Express Inn has entered into an agreement that ensures going forward individuals with disabilities will not be denied their rights under federal law."

Individuals who believe they have been victims of discrimination may file an ADA complaint online at https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Department of Justice's toll-free information line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY).

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Janice Powers of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte. AUSA Powers also serves as the U.S. Attorney's Office's Civil-Civil Rights Coordinator.