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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello Marion,</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Trust you to stand up for all of our rights. While it is a dog guide issue it is, at the same time, a issue for all of the blind. Thank you.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Sent from JD<b> <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><b>From: ‘</b><a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">Marion Gwizdala via NFBF-L</a><br><b>Sent: </b>Tuesday, October 22, 2019 2:47 PM<br><b>To: </b><a href="mailto:nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org">NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List</a>; <a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List</a><br><b>Cc: </b><a href="mailto:marion.gwizdala@verizon.net">Marion Gwizdala</a>; <a href="mailto:blind411@verizon.net">'Marion Gwizdala'</a><br><b>Subject: </b>[NFBF-L] Why Pack the Courtroom with Service Dogs?</p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Service Dog Users and Supporters,</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For some of you, this may be your first reading of this information, so I</p><p class=MsoNormal>will give a very brief introduction. On March 26, while walking along the</p><p class=MsoNormal>sidewalk adjoining Tampa's Winston Park, my guide dog was attacked by two</p><p class=MsoNormal>loose pit bulls. The owner of the dogs got his dogs away from mine, put them</p><p class=MsoNormal>on a leash, and then came back to taunt my guide dog and me. The owner of</p><p class=MsoNormal>the dogs has been charged with distracting the work of a service dog and the</p><p class=MsoNormal>final hearing is tomorrow. </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In my earlier message sharing information about tomorrow's hearing resulting</p><p class=MsoNormal>from the intentional distraction of my guide dog, there was a whole lot more</p><p class=MsoNormal>to the story that I wanted to share but did not. After considering it, I</p><p class=MsoNormal>thought the best approach was to give others the information and the</p><p class=MsoNormal>opportunity to act. If you agree what happened in the courthouse is shocking</p><p class=MsoNormal>and want to help shed light on the pervasive problems the following letter</p><p class=MsoNormal>to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office uncovers, please join us on</p><p class=MsoNormal>October 23 at 800 E. Twiggs Street, Courtroom 300 at 8:45 a.m. </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>June 20, 2019</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Detective Jennifer Sands</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Professional Standards Section</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2008 East 8th Avenue</p><p class=MsoNormal>Tampa, Florida 33605</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Det. Sands,</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Thank you for the time you took to speak with me this afternoon. I</p><p class=MsoNormal>am writing to express my concerns over the manner in which I was treated by</p><p class=MsoNormal>Judge Manning and his staff, including his bailiff and Master Sargeant James</p><p class=MsoNormal>Escobio on Thursday, June 20, 2019. It may be valuable to understand that</p><p class=MsoNormal>This sort of dismissive, offensive, and condescending attitude is typical of</p><p class=MsoNormal>the conduct we experience nearly every time we attempt to protect our civil</p><p class=MsoNormal>rights. It is our hope that this incident will attract the attention of</p><p class=MsoNormal>those who are as offended with the treatment as I! On the aforementioned</p><p class=MsoNormal>date, I attended Court to observe the proceedings of a case in which I am</p><p class=MsoNormal>the plaintiff. When I exited the elevator to make my way to Courtroom 300,</p><p class=MsoNormal>what I assume was another service dog lunged and barked at my dog. As I was</p><p class=MsoNormal>making my way to the courtroom, I noticed there was another service dog in</p><p class=MsoNormal>the aisle when I heard the handler tell the dog, "Leave it!". While standing</p><p class=MsoNormal>outside the courtroom, a male approached me and asked me to follow him. I</p><p class=MsoNormal>asked what this was about and was told he was escorting me to the podium to</p><p class=MsoNormal>hear my case. I told him I did not have a case; I was only there to observe.</p><p class=MsoNormal>He advised me that I could not be in the courtroom because there might be</p><p class=MsoNormal>other service dogs and they did not want to have a fight. I advised him</p><p class=MsoNormal>that, should there be an altercation, the offending dog should be removed</p><p class=MsoNormal>and I should not be restricted from sitting in the courtroom. He told me</p><p class=MsoNormal>there was a safety issue and I replied that this safety issue did not</p><p class=MsoNormal>involve me. I told him at that time that not permitting me to sit in the</p><p class=MsoNormal>courtroom with my guide dog was a violation of state and federal law and he</p><p class=MsoNormal>reiterated his safety concern. I told him I intended to sit in the courtroom</p><p class=MsoNormal>and observe the proceedings. He again stated he was not discriminating</p><p class=MsoNormal>against me, it was for safety reasons. I advised him he could not assume</p><p class=MsoNormal>there would be a problem and he could only remove a service dog if it were</p><p class=MsoNormal>out of control or it posed a direct threat. He stated, "So, we need to wait</p><p class=MsoNormal>until there's a dog fight?" I advised him there was no evidence there would</p><p class=MsoNormal>be any problems and again stated I felt his behavior was discriminatory. He</p><p class=MsoNormal>begrudgingly relented and told me I could have a seat. Since the courtroom</p><p class=MsoNormal>was empty except for the Court staff, I told him I would wait outside with</p><p class=MsoNormal>the rest of the people until Court began. I left the room and stood outside</p><p class=MsoNormal>the courtroom.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and got the</p><p class=MsoNormal>number for the Bailiff's office. I explained my concern to the person who</p><p class=MsoNormal>answered and was told a supervisor would come to speak with me. A few</p><p class=MsoNormal>minutes later, someone who identified himself as "James" (Master Sargeant</p><p class=MsoNormal>James Escobio) approached me. I explained what happened. He had apparently</p><p class=MsoNormal>already spoken with the first person, since he asked me if I was offered a</p><p class=MsoNormal>seat in the courtroom. When I stated I was offered a seat and why I refused,</p><p class=MsoNormal>he asked what the problem was. I told him the person's behavior was</p><p class=MsoNormal>discriminatory in violation of state and federal law. He replied, "I'm sorry</p><p class=MsoNormal>you feel that way!" then turned his back to me and walked away. I then</p><p class=MsoNormal>telephoned the bailiff's office again, asked to speak with a ranking deputy,</p><p class=MsoNormal>and was connected to lt. Brown. I again explained my concerns, the manner in</p><p class=MsoNormal>which I was treated by Sgt. Escobio, and she promised to investigate it.</p><p class=MsoNormal>When I finally entered the courtroom, I believe it was Sgt. Escobio who</p><p class=MsoNormal>asked me for my name, stating he was writing a report about the incident.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I observed the Court proceedings but the case I was there to hear</p><p class=MsoNormal>was not on the docket. As I stood to leave, the judge asked if I had</p><p class=MsoNormal>business with the Court. I stated I thought I did but the case was not</p><p class=MsoNormal>heard. I began to leave the courtroom but decided I would address this issue</p><p class=MsoNormal>with the judge and asked his permission to do so. When I explained the</p><p class=MsoNormal>incident and told him I felt I was discriminated against and treated in a</p><p class=MsoNormal>very dismissive manner, Judge Manning began interrogating me. I use the term</p><p class=MsoNormal>"Interrogating" rather than "questioning" because I felt the tone of the</p><p class=MsoNormal>judge's voice was very accusatory. He asked me if I was in the courtroom</p><p class=MsoNormal>when he entered and I replied I was. He asked if I was afforded the</p><p class=MsoNormal>opportunity to observe all the proceedings and I answered I was. "Now we are</p><p class=MsoNormal>done and you are still here. How is that discriminatory?" Judge Manning</p><p class=MsoNormal>asked. I asserted that my ability to successfully advocate for myself did</p><p class=MsoNormal>not absolve or lessen the impact of the bailiff's discriminatory behavior.</p><p class=MsoNormal>He stated his staff was only ensuring the safety of others and he did not</p><p class=MsoNormal>understand why I was upset. About this time, my dog yawned and let out a</p><p class=MsoNormal>little sigh. The judge heard it and said, "See!", though I am not sure of</p><p class=MsoNormal>the relevance of this remark though I took it as an attempt to shift the</p><p class=MsoNormal>blame for the incident to me. I told him I had nothing more to say and</p><p class=MsoNormal>intended to file a formal complaint. He advised me to include in my</p><p class=MsoNormal>complaint that I was in the courtroom during the whole proceedings. Because</p><p class=MsoNormal>of the judge's conduct toward me, I am also concerned that the judge will be</p><p class=MsoNormal>biased on the case I intended to observe in his courtroom when it is heard.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The Hillsborough County Courthouse is a public entity under Title</p><p class=MsoNormal>II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (42 USC 12115(1)(A)). I am a</p><p class=MsoNormal>"qualified individual with a disability" (42 USC 12115(2)). My dog is a</p><p class=MsoNormal>"service dog" as defined by the implementing regulations of the ADA (28 CFR</p><p class=MsoNormal>Section 35.104). Public entities are required to modify their policies,</p><p class=MsoNormal>practices, and procedures to permit the use of a service animal by a person</p><p class=MsoNormal>with a disability (28 CFR Section 35.136(a). </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> ). My guide dog was under control (28 CFR Section 35.136(b) on a tether and</p><p class=MsoNormal>harness 28 CFR Section 35.136(d) and exhibited no behavior that could be</p><p class=MsoNormal>construed as a "direct threat" (42 USC 12182(3)). By attempting to restrict</p><p class=MsoNormal>my access to the courtroom, Judge Manning's staff attempted to require me to</p><p class=MsoNormal>accept an "unequal benefit in violation of the ADA (42 USC 12182(b)(1)(A)).</p><p class=MsoNormal>Should Judge Manning treat the case in which I am the victim in a biased</p><p class=MsoNormal>manner because I have opposed an act or behavior prohibited by the ADA, such</p><p class=MsoNormal>bias would also be considered retaliatory and, therefore, discriminatory</p><p class=MsoNormal>(42 USC 12203).</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> In addition to the federl law cited above, Florida law provides</p><p class=MsoNormal>that disabled individuals have the right to full and equal access to all</p><p class=MsoNormal>public accommodations (413.08(2) f.s.) and have the right to be accompanied</p><p class=MsoNormal>by a service dog (413.08(3) f.s.). Violation of this florida statute is a </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>second degree misdemeanor (413)08(4) f.s.).</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The bailiff, Sgt. Escobio, and Judge manning all treated me in a</p><p class=MsoNormal>discriminatory manner when all I was attempting to do was to exercise my</p><p class=MsoNormal>rights as a citizen. When I opposed their attempts to treat me in a</p><p class=MsoNormal>discriminatory manner, I was met with arrogance, dismissiveness, and</p><p class=MsoNormal>disrespect. In fact, though Judge Manning seemed to extend understanding and</p><p class=MsoNormal>compassion to those who had violated the law, the same understanding and</p><p class=MsoNormal>compassion was not afforded one whose only transgression was to protect and</p><p class=MsoNormal>secure my civil rights, something completely unexpected and offensive in a</p><p class=MsoNormal>Court of law in which an individual's civil rights should be affirmed, not</p><p class=MsoNormal>dismissed. I strongly encourage those who have the authority to remedy this</p><p class=MsoNormal>situation so it does not occur to someone else and take corrective measures</p><p class=MsoNormal>to make this situation a learning experience for all. If I can facilitate</p><p class=MsoNormal>this process, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. My contact</p><p class=MsoNormal>information is below my signature.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Respectfully yours,</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion Gwizdala, President</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(813) 626-2789</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President@NAGDU.ORG</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not</p><p class=MsoNormal>the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the</p><p class=MsoNormal>expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles</p><p class=MsoNormal>between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want!</p><p class=MsoNormal>Blindness is not what holds you back.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________</p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBF-L mailing list</p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBF-L@nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBF-L:</p><p class=MsoNormal>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/townsend.lcsw%40gmail.com</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>