Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced a settlement agreement with the XL Center, its management companies, the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut to resolve allegations that the XL Center failed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, including mobility impairments, in places of public accommodation. The XL Center is an arena in downtown Hartford that seats more than 16,000 people and hosts various athletic and entertainment events.
Following an investigation prompted by a complaint, the XL Center parties agreed to make numerous changes, including adding accessible bathrooms and seats, improving the existing accessible seating, removing mobility impairments, installing additional safety measures, and changing policies.
The XL Center, its management companies, the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut worked cooperatively to address the deficiencies at the Center. The United States will continue to monitor the XL Center for the next three years to ensure ongoing compliance with the ADA.
“The law appropriately mandates that all people including those with disabilities have equal access to places of public accommodation," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Daly. “As the XL Center serves so many, we hope the Center’s significant efforts will act as a reminder to all businesses of their legal obligations under the ADA to the citizens of Connecticut. Even facilities that were built prior to the 1992 enactment of the ADA are legally required to remove all physical barriers to access so that their facilities can be enjoyed fully and equally by all people, including those that have limited mobility."
The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation.
The enforcement of the ADA is a top priority of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Individuals can file an ADA complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Connecticut by calling 203-821-3700, and also by visiting www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm. Additional information about the ADA and its application to places of public accommodation can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD).
This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa E. Perkins and David C. Nelson.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
