A Ragged Edge Online: Attorney Sues More Businesses in Julian CA

Attorney Ted Pinnock filed suit last Thursday against nearly a dozen owners of the small stores in the "Stonewall Shops" mall in Julian. The shops, according to the suit, all have steps along the "path of travel."

Thursday's filing is the latest in a number of suits being filed -- or planning to be filed -- by Pinnock against stores in the small town of Julian, CA.

Pinnock says that since he sent them letters notifying them of his intent to sue them if they didn't make moves to become accessible, a number of Julian businesses insist they believed they didn't have to comply with federal access requirements of the 1990 American with Disabilities Act, since architectural guidelines approved for the historic town didn't specify access. Moreover, he says, some businesses have insisted the guidelines prohibit them; from making changes for access.

Read more about Pinnock's Julian lawsuits on Edge-Centric.

(Updates on Julian
here and here.)

Read Disabled attorney, group of Julian businesses sue each other (North County Times)

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I am 100% for making these stores and any store compliant with the ADA, but if access for people with disabilities is truly the goal- then why not point out to these store how they can become compliant to the ADA?

The existance of steps is not an impediment to compliance for a small store that offers an alternative means of service or a temporary ramp.

If access is the goal, not making money via lawsuits, a threatening letter would not be sent- instead a note or a visit where the things that could be done to increase access would be done.

I do this almost daily in my life - and I see the businesses by and large taking my suggestions to heart. I think MOST businesses want to do what is best by ALL their customers, but too often they haven't the first clue how to do that. I don't excuse inaccessible businesses, but I also do not endorse anyone who thinks suing people without any discussion about their noncompliance issues is right.

Posted by: Susan Fitzmaurice | January 9, 2006 09:26 PM