[nfbmi-talk] FW: retaliation suit now on airport

[Terry D. Eagle]

Sounds to me like the treatment by BS4BP toward blind persons who stand up
for non-discrimination laws and services to truly eligible persons for
services using vocational rehabilitation funds, rather than an ineligible
employed blind state employee and sighted persons!

 

  _____  

From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2015 8:14 AM
Subject: retaliation suit now on airport

 

Here is another story on the airport fiasco. Now note the second suit which
alleges violations of the ADA's retaliation provisions here. They sound
quite familiar to me.

 

Joe

 

 

Relocation of bus stop at Metro Airport sparks protest, lawsuit

 

Published: Wednesday, April 29, 2015

By Jackie Harrison-Martin

jackie at heritage.com

news/doc553fd9eabba0b552910830

Click to enlarge

 

The bus stops here.

 

In this case, "here" is the south end of the Ground Transportation Center at
Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

 

The location for public transportation stops used to be curbside at
mid-terminal, but that changed and has caused controversy ever since.

 

A protest, led by the National Federation of the Blind, was held Sunday
outside the McNamara Terminal.

 

About 15 people carrying hand-written signs using canes and leader dogs
voiced their opinions on the change, saying it creates a hardship on
travelers who

are visually impaired.

 

Michael Conway, director of public affairs for the Wayne County Airport
Authority, said Monday that protesters were polite, followed the rules and
caused

no problems.

 

"We support their right to free expression," he said.

 

In yet another move pertaining to the bus stop change, a federal lawsuit was
filed Monday on behalf of Indian Trails Inc. and Michigan Flyer, LLC
charging

the airport authority with "corrupt and unlawful retaliatory conduct"
against the companies due to their support of two individuals with
disabilities in

a previous lawsuit against the authority.

 

The previous lawsuit charged the authority, which operates the airport, with
violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act in relocating the loading

area for public transportation.

 

Monday's lawsuit says that after settling that case, the authority
"immediately and severely retaliated" against Indian Trails and Michigan
Flyer "in blatant

violation of the anti-retaliation provisions of the Americans With
Disabilities Act."

 

The lawsuit charges that, among other things, the authority:

 

?Reduced the amount of time their buses could remain at the curb.

 

?Forced buses to circle the terminal even when empty spaces for buses were
available.

 

?Forced buses to leave before scheduled departure times.

 

?Prohibited buses from unloading passengers at the McNamara Terminal.

 

?Gave competing bus companies preferential drop-off and pickup locations.

 

Because of litigation issues, Conway declined to comment on both events.

 

According to Conway, individuals involved in the previous lawsuit also were
involved in the protest.

 

He said making a comment could be problematic to the litigation process.

 

However, he did want to make three points clear:

 

?The authority operates an accessible facility and welcomes all customers.

 

?The authority is in compliance with the October 2014 settlement agreement.

 

?The authority supports public transportation. For example, it waives ground
transportation fees charged to all other ground transportation providers.

 

Conway issued a press release in September when the bus location was moved,
explaining why the change was made and how it is for the safety of all
passengers.

 

"The current location for pickup and drop-off at the international arrivals
curb has become too congested," authority CEO Thomas Naughton said. "SMART
and

AirRide motor coaches will move to the Ground Transportation Center to
create a safer environment for all of their customers - exactly like it
operates

at the North Terminal.

 

"DTW's international passenger traffic and AirRide's business have both
grown, creating unacceptable congestion in the international arrival lanes,
creating

a safety hazard for pedestrians and public and private vehicles and in the
area. We have observed numerous recurring instances of AirRide motor coaches

loading or unloading passengers two or three lanes from the curb and have
observed vehicles passing the AirRide bus on the right while pedestrians are

in the street."

 

Naughton said once the authority determines that a safety hazard exists, it
is obligated to address it.

 

According to the press release, international traffic at the airport has
increased.

 

The change will prevent passengers using wheelchairs and/or walkers from
having to search for the nearest curb-cut.

 

The release said millions of passengers, including passengers with
disabilities, using ground transportation have used the Ground
Transportation Centers

for years.

 

Nevertheless, Sunday's pickets believe the authority increased the distance
disabled passengers have to travel to waiting areas instead of decreasing
it,

as required by the Americans With Disabilities Act.

 

Source:

 

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2015/04/29/news/doc553fd9eabba0b552910
830.txt?viewmode=fullstory