[nagdu] . Block Buster and Service Dogs.

[Jewel S.]

I'm not sure what the bankruptcy has to do with the ADA settlement?

~Jewel

On 8/29/10, Artie. <anolden at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
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> http://consumerist.com/2010/08/blockbuster-filing-for-bankruptcy.html
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> Blockbuster Filing For Bankruptcy In September
> By Ben Popken on August 27, 2010 1:00 PM
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> (The Consumerist)
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> Blockbuster told Hollywood studios that it's planning to file for bankruptcy
> in mid-September.
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> The home video rental retail chain wants to use the time to restructure its
> $1 billion debt and get out of the leases on at least 500 of the
> crappiest-performing of its 3,424 stores.
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> They think they can turn things around by doing more with its Redbox-style
> DVD kiosks and increasing their attention on this crazy new-fangled thing
> called the "Internet."
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> Blockbuster's stock was delisted from the NYSE last month. It closed
> Thursday at $0.11.
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> http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/July/10-ag-831.html
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> Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Blockbuster Inc. Under the
> Americans with Disabilities Act
> WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement
> under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Blockbuster Inc. to
> ensure equal access to its stores nationwide for individuals with
> disabilities who use service animals.
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> The settlement agreement, which resolves a complaint filed under title III
> of the ADA by an individual with a disability, requires, among other things,
> that Blockbuster provide comprehensive training to employees at more than
> 3,000 retail stores throughout the United States to ensure individuals with
> disabilities who use service animals have full and equal enjoyment of its
> goods, services and facilities.
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> "The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees equal access to individuals
> with disabilities who are accompanied by service animals, but too often
> those individuals are subject to discrimination because of misperceptions or
> a lack of understanding of the law," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant
> Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
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> The agreement, which will remain in effect for three years, requires that
> Blockbuster:
>   Implement a comprehensive nationwide nondiscrimination policy regarding
> service animals for people with disabilities;
> Distribute the policy and train employees across the United States on the
> rights of service animal users and employee obligations to ensure full and
> equal access to Blockbuster goods, services and facilities;
> Provide the same training to new staff during the hiring process;
> Post its service animal policy on its website and in its stores, and post a
> "Service Animals Welcome" sign in each of its stores;
> Create a toll-free ADA complaint line;
> Establish, implement, and monitor a grievance procedure for ADA-related
> complaints from customers;
> Pay $12,000 in damages to the individual who filed the complaint resolved by
> this settlement; and
> Pay $10,000 as a civil penalty.
> A service animal is individually trained to work or perform tasks for the
> benefit of an individual with a disability.   Service animals - most
> commonly dogs - perform a wide variety of functions.   Examples of these
> functions include guiding persons who are blind or have low vision, alerting
> individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to sounds, warning persons about
> impending seizures or other medical conditions, performing a variety of
> tasks for persons with psychiatric disabilities, and picking up items,
> opening doors, flipping switches, providing physical support and pulling
> wheelchairs for individuals with mobility disabilities.
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> Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination by retail stores, restaurants,
> hotels, taxi and bus companies, doctors, hospitals and other private
> businesses and nonprofit organizations that provide services to the public.
>  Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination by public entities, including
> state and local governments and public transportation providers.   All of
> these entities are prohibited from excluding individuals with disabilities
> from their facilities, services and programs because the individuals use
> service animals.   If any of these entities has a rule excluding pets or
> other animals, it must make an exception to that rule and permit an
> individual with a disability to be accompanied by a service animal anywhere
> on the premises that other customers are permitted to go.
>
> "The ADA's 20th anniversary is July 26, 2010," said Assistant Attorney
> General Perez.   "As we celebrate the anniversary of this landmark civil
> rights law, we are pleased that Blockbuster has affirmed its commitment to
> ensuring that individuals with disabilities benefit fully and equally from
> its goods, facilities, and services, including individuals who use service
> animals."
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> More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is
> available at the websitewww.justice.gov/crt .  More information about this
> agreement, the ADA, and ADA rights and responsibilities relating to service
> animals is available on the ADA home page at www.ada.gov.   This information
> includes two publications specifically addressing access for individuals
> accompanied by service animals: "ADA Business Brief: Service Animals" and
> "Commonly Asked Questions About Service Animals in Places of Business."
> Those interested in obtaining copies of these documents or additional
> information may also call the Justice Department's toll-free ADA Information
> Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com