Disabled sue Cal Expo on access to State Fair

antiquity · 08-29-2002, 08:55 PM

Disabled sue Cal Expo on access to State Fair

By Emily Bazar -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Wednesday, August 28, 2002

A confrontation at the California State Fair last weekend has spurred a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court pitting disability rights advocates against Cal Expo officials in a fight for access.

The suit, filed Tuesday, came after an attorney and some disability consultants were kicked off the fairgrounds Sunday for taking photographs of midway rides and booths that they claim violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws.

In the suit, the disability rights advocates claim fair officials violated their right to free speech and the right to conduct a peaceful investigation of the accessibility. They also argue their expulsion was an act of retaliation.

That expulsion triggered a separate hearing in Sacramento federal court Tuesday in which the midway operator asked U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to approve a temporary restraining order against the lawyer, consultants and some disability rights advocates.

Burrell declined, and the disability rights advocates have said they will return to the fair this weekend to continue their search for inaccessible rides, booths and buildings.

Tony Fiori, spokesman for Ray Cammack Shows -- which provides the rides, games and food booths of the midway -- said they will be welcome if they behave.

"We're not going to compromise safety for anyone. If they're acting in a disruptive way, we will have to ask them to leave," he said.

The dispute stems from a lawsuit filed last year by area residents HolLynn D'Lil and Larry McIver, who accuse Cal Expo of violating state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

In the lawsuit, which is still about a year away from trial,

D'Lil and McIver claim that Cal Expo's facilities are inaccessible, with stairs leading to rides and countertops too high for people using wheelchairs.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/s...-5189223c.html

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08-29-2002, 08:55 PM	#1
antiquity Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 14,540	Disabled sue Cal Expo on access to State Fair Disabled sue Cal Expo on access to State Fair By Emily Bazar -- Bee Capitol Bureau Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Wednesday, August 28, 2002 A confrontation at the California State Fair last weekend has spurred a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court pitting disability rights advocates against Cal Expo officials in a fight for access. The suit, filed Tuesday, came after an attorney and some disability consultants were kicked off the fairgrounds Sunday for taking photographs of midway rides and booths that they claim violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws. In the suit, the disability rights advocates claim fair officials violated their right to free speech and the right to conduct a peaceful investigation of the accessibility. They also argue their expulsion was an act of retaliation. That expulsion triggered a separate hearing in Sacramento federal court Tuesday in which the midway operator asked U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to approve a temporary restraining order against the lawyer, consultants and some disability rights advocates. Burrell declined, and the disability rights advocates have said they will return to the fair this weekend to continue their search for inaccessible rides, booths and buildings. Tony Fiori, spokesman for Ray Cammack Shows -- which provides the rides, games and food booths of the midway -- said they will be welcome if they behave. "We're not going to compromise safety for anyone. If they're acting in a disruptive way, we will have to ask them to leave," he said. The dispute stems from a lawsuit filed last year by area residents HolLynn D'Lil and Larry McIver, who accuse Cal Expo of violating state and federal anti-discrimination laws. In the lawsuit, which is still about a year away from trial, D'Lil and McIver claim that Cal Expo's facilities are inaccessible, with stairs leading to rides and countertops too high for people using wheelchairs. http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/s...-5189223c.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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