FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1996                          (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Myrtle Beach, South Carolina motel that turned away two vacationing young adults with disabilities has agreed to change its discriminatory policy and pay more than $90,000 in damages under an agreement reached today with the Justice Department.

The agreement, filed in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina, resolves a complaint filed with the Justice Department by Betty Chaney and Mary Jones, the mothers of the two vacationers. The complaint alleged that the owner and operators of the Ocean Plaza Motel violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by refusing to allow the two women and their children to stay at the motel because of their children's disabilities. Debra Jones, 22, Mrs. Jones' daughter, and Jackie Chaney, 22, Mrs. Chaney's son, both have cerebral palsy and use wheelchairs.

"Business owners cannot shut their doors to people with disabilities," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick. "Those who choose to exclude people with disabilities will be held accountable."

According to the complaint Mary Jones called the Ocean Plaza Motel on July 8, 1995 and made reservations for the foursome, as a graduation present for Debra and Jackie. At the time, she informed the motel that two of the four guests used wheelchairs.

The four arrived in Myrtle Beach on July 21, 1995. After the mothers checked into the motel, owner Marie A. Wynock, who together with her husband Richard operates the motel, saw the two young adults in the parking lot and informed the mothers that "handicapped" persons could not stay at Ocean Plaza. Ms. Wynock then took back the room key and parking permit and refunded the money for the room. It took the Chaneys and Jones several hours before they were able to obtain a room at another motel in the Myrtle Beach area.

Under today's agreement, filed together with a complaint, the owner and operators will:

 establish and post a formal written policy that the motel will no longer deny services or accommodations to persons with disabilities;

 train its employees about the requirements of the ADA;

 remove architectural barriers over a two-year period, where such removal is readily achievable;

 pay $92,000 plus interest to the two mothers and their children over the two-year period; and,

 pay civil penalties of $5,000 to the U.S. treasury.

The agreement must be approved by the court.

Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in public accommodations, such as hotels or motels.

Copies of the agreement may be obtained by calling the Justice Department's toll-free ADA Information Line. The hotline was established by Attorney General Janet Reno as part of a nationwide campaign to educate the public about the law. The number is 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).