A disabled Louisiana man is suing a two Covington businesses, alleging non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in connection with the plaintiff’s attempts to access their premises.
Thad Tatum of Orleans Parish filed a lawsuit July 24 against The Mayfair Company Inc. and Woodlee II in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, alleging their jointly owned shopping center is out of compliance with disability law.
According to the complaint, Tatum is afflicted with paraplegia, suffers substantially impairment in many life activities and requires a wheelchair for mobility. The suit states he encounters physical barriers at the defendants’ Mayfair Shopping Center, a public center with tenants including a Magnolia food store at 2209 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey. Tatum has visited the facility in the past and expects to do so in the future, but fears he will encounter the barriers again, the lawsuit says.
The suit states Tatum experienced difficulty due to inconvenient handicapped parking, lack of an accessible route to the facility’s shoe store due to inadequate curb construction, and hazardous ingress due to lack of side flares or safety rails. The complaint also lists narrow passageways and aisles, and improper level changes at store entrances.
Tatum seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, expenses and court costs. He is represented by attorneys Andrew Bizer and Garret DeReus of The Bizer Law Firm in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-02957-MLCF-MBN.