SCRANTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office announced a civil settlement with a Harrisburg mental health service provider to ensure equal access under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the U.S. Attorney’s Office received a complaint that patients with physical disabilities could not access the entrance of the Commonwealth Clinic Group, Inc. located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The front entrance could only be accessed by stairs. Although Commonwealth Clinical Group had a ramp to access the rear entrance, that ramp was located in a restricted employee parking lot, the main entrance had no signs pointing to the rear entrance, and there was no designated accessible parking space.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Commonwealth Clinical Group would remove the barriers to access the building, including redesignating the employee lot as the accessible parking area, allow use of the ramp in the rear to all those entering the building, place signage at the front entrance that provides notice of the rear accessible entrance, and designate and mark a van accessible parking space.
“Businesses must ensure that their entrances to their buildings are accessible to everyone, including those with physical disabilities under the ADA,” said U.S. Attorney Karam. “Providers of mental health and other medical services have a particular responsibility to make sure their patients can enter their facilities without physical barriers. Commonwealth Clinical Group, Inc. has taken steps with this settlement agreement to ensure that access.”
Title III of the ADA prohibits public accommodations, such as mental health providers, from excluding people with disabilities from enjoying goods, services, privileges, facilities, and advantages provided. For more information regarding the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat discrimination, please visit ADA.gov. To learn more about the obligations of public accommodations under federal disability rights statutes, call the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301, 800-514-0383 (TTY). Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing usapam.civil.rights@usdoj.gov.
The settlement agreement was reached to avoid the costs and burdens of litigation and does not represent an admission of liability by Commonwealth Clinical Group. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Butler represented the government during the investigation and settlement.
# # #
