Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has entered into a settlement agreement with Stamford Hotel Propco, LLC and MJ Hotels of Stamford, LLC, owner and manager of Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa (“Stamford Marriott”), located in Stamford, to resolve allegations that the hotel was not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”).
The settlement agreement, which resolves an ADA complaint filed by an individual with a disability alleging that the Stamford Marriott was not accessible for individuals with physical disabilities, requires the hotel to make a suite accessible for individuals with mobility disabilities, make 14 additional rooms accessible for individuals with hearing disabilities, and make numerous changes in other accessible rooms to bring them into compliance with the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design. The hotel will also add accessible dining surfaces to its lobby restaurants and make changes in the restrooms located on the lobby, lower level, and mezzanine to make them more accessible. It will also make changes to its parking garage, including by adding signs and access aisles to accessible parking spaces and adjusting several curb ramps so that they are accessible.
The Stamford Marriott is in the process of making the changes required by the settlement agreement and will continue to make improvements over the next 30 months.
Under federal law, private entities that own or operate places of “public accommodation,” including hotels and inns, are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability. The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and undertake periodic reviews of compliance of covered entities. The Justice Department is also authorized to commence a civil lawsuit in federal court in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance, and to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties.
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-696-3000.
Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY). More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart C. Dearing.