A fan is suing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim because the wheelchair-accessible seating in the Angel Stadium club level was sold out on the night he wanted to attend a game. The lawsuit is bound to touch on reasonable access in ballparks and stadia across the country and what constitutes reasonable access under the law.
A fan is suing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim because the handicapped seating in the Angel Stadium club level was sold out on a night he wanted wheelchair-accessible seating on the club level. The lawsuit is bound to touch on reasonable access in ballparks and stadia across the country and what constitutes reasonable access under the law.
J. Paul Charlebois is suing the Angels because the two handicapped seats in the Angel Stadium club level were sold out. Because he couldn't sit where he wanted, he is seeking changes in the seating arrangement in the club level — adding more handicapped seats, of course — as well as attorney fees. (He is not seeking damages, however.)
Still, there are a whole host of issues raised by the lawsuit. Just how many handicapped seats in a section are enough? Should the handicapped be entitled to special seating even if the section is sold out? And should the government be dictating the specific number of handicapped seats in each section of a ballpark or stadium? All of a sudden it's enough enough that the seating exist per the law, but that enough exist to be available on demand.
On the other hand, two seats doesn't seem to be enough, especially when access to the club level, where there are wider hallways and waitstaff, would especially be attractive to those needing wheelchair-accessible seating. This, of course, may never see a courtroom (the Angels would be smart to settle quickly and reconfigure the club level to some extent), but it's something all ballpark operators should review.
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