Episode 07: "Next Gen" Reasonable Accommodations And Disability Law Trends
Dogs are a human’s best friend – but are they the hospitality industry’s best friend, too? Restaurant owners may be wondering what their rights, responsibilities, and options are with respect to letting our furry friends...more
A Puerto Rico federal court holding reminds us that an animal that performs work or tasks for a person with a psychiatric disability – such as identifying the onset of a panic attack and taking action to mitigate its effect –...more
Recently, we discussed whether a miniature horse qualified as a service animal allowed to enter public accommodations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The answer is yes, but what does that mean for...more
Occasionally we see a story in the news that we can’t resist blogging about, and this one is no exception: Last week, an emotional support alligator named “Wally” was denied access to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia to...more
We have all seen it. The unruly lap dog brought into a restaurant, yipping away, or the big dog running through a store dragging along its owner who, of course, claims it is a “service animal,” even though it clearly is not....more
QUESTION: What are “Service Animals”, and to what extent: Must they be allowed on business premises? Can they be refused or removed from premises? ...more
In 2008, the Department of Justice (“the DOJ”), Civil Rights Division, published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to amend the regulations which enforce the ADA’s prohibition of discrimination in public accommodations....more
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed significant changes to its disability regulations relating to the transportation of service animals by air. DOT’s current regulations require that airlines allow...more
On August 30, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, covering New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, issued a precedential opinion in an important case interpreting the Americans With...more
At its most basic, your obligations with respect to any animal (and necessarily, its human companion) depend upon what kind of animal it is. An area that often leads to questions, especially given recent efforts by...more
Given the menagerie of terms, it is easy to see why some business owners are quite confused about what to do when they are asked to permit an animal in their places of business. Part of the confusion comes from the multitude...more
As a proud “dog dad,” I certainly appreciate our furry friends. However,service animals can cause problems in the workplace and leave businesses questioning how to handle the situation. There are two major issues for...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Is it a service animal or an emotional support animal? Do I have to allow both? How to tell one from the other, and the rules that apply....more
“Drive-by” lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are more prevalent than ever and continue to rise. ...more
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits disability discrimination in places of public accommodation, which includes businesses that are open to the public – like shopping malls, restaurants, movie...more
Dear Littler: I read a New Yorker article about people bringing their dogs everywhere, claiming they were emotional support animals. It mentioned a dog trying to get into Carnegie Hall. But everyone knows there’s only one...more
Seyfarth synopsis: A Florida Judge Holds that SeaWorld’s website is not a place of public accommodation covered by Title III of the ADA but the decision has its limits....more
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today that it filed a lawsuit against the Gates-Chili Central School District in New York because it refused to have its teachers help a kindergarten student with epilepsy and other...more
Recently, a Federal court in Northern California denied Uber Technologies, Inc.’s request to dismiss an access lawsuit. The plaintiffs, National Federation of the Blind of California (“NFBC”) and individual blind members with...more