snipped from:
INCLUSION DAILY EXPRESS
Your quick, once-a-day review of disability rights and the movement toward
full community inclusion and self-determination.
http://www.InclusionDaily.com
ACCESSIBILITY/LAWS:
***EASTWOOD FOUND LIABLE FOR NOT PROVIDING ACCESS***
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA--On Friday, a jury decided that Clint Eastwood was
liable for three violations regarding access at his Mission Ranch Inn, but
did not order the actor/director to pay any damages to the woman who had
sued him.
Diane zum Brunnen, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, claimed
that Eastwood's Mission Ranch Inn in Carmel was inaccessible when she and
her husband visited in 1996. She was asking for damages and for the court to
force Eastwood to make changes to make the hotel more accessible.
After four hours of deliberations, the jury announced the verdict, in which
it found that Eastwood's resort should provide a ramp to the registration
office, a second accessible guest room and signs about the accessible
restrooms -- which are 234 feet away. Eastwood said those changes are
already "in the works".
Several disability rights advocates, many using wheelchairs, attended the
trial in a federal courtroom, which is not accessible. The wheelchairs had
to be escorted through an exit door into the courthouse. Court officials
removed a bench to allow room for the observers.
Eastwood has portrayed himself as a hero for small business owners who do
not adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act, suggesting they are
victims of "renegade lawyers". He has also claimed that people with
disabilities are being used by such attorneys who just want a "fistful of
dollars".
In May of this year, Eastwood argued before the U.S. House Committee on the
Judiciary that businesses should be given a 90-day notice before a
discrimination complaint could be filed based on the ADA. Eastwood was
defending HR 3590, the proposed "ADA Notification Act", which many
disability rights advocates say would severely weaken the law.
Here is an item on the jury's decision from Saturday's San Francisco
Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/09/30
/MN111950.DTL
Adrian Higginbotham.
SURFACE (Salford University, Research Focus on Accessible Environments).
tel: (44_-161-2953949,
fax (44)-161-2955011,
Email [log in to unmask]
textphone (44)-161-2953599.
web: http://www.scpm.salford.ac.uk/surface/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|