Griswold Hotel to Make Changes to Comply with American with Disabilities Act

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with the AmericInn by Wyndham Hotel in Griswold to resolve allegations that the hotel had not been operating in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”).

The settlement agreement resolves an ADA complaint filed by an individual with disabilities alleging that the AmericInn by Wyndham Hotel, Griswold, owned and managed by Champion Griswold, LLC, was not accessible for individuals with physical disabilities.  The hotel is in the process of making the changes required by the settlement agreement, which include significant improvements to designated accessible guest rooms, accessible public restrooms, eating and recreation areas and the addition of signage for parking spaces, for individuals with disabilities.  The hotel will continue to make improvements over the next three years.

Under federal law, private entities that own or operate “places of public accommodation,” including hotels, 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 Department of Justice 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.

U.S. Attorney Durham noted that the AmericInn by Wyndham, Griswold Hotel’s management has worked quickly and cooperatively with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to address the ADA issues without litigation.

Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that a hotel or any other place of public accommodation in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700.

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 Ndidi N. Moses of the District of Connecticut in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division