NEW ORLEANS – A blind person is suing a grocery store chain over claims its water refill stations deny equal access.
Scott Magee filed a complaint on May 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. alleging violation of the American with Disabilities Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that he was unable to independently determine the cost of and amount of water purchased at defendant’s water refill station in Metairie without the assistance of others on May 1. The plaintiff holds Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to make its refill stations accessible to blind persons; denied full and equal access to and use and enjoyment of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges and services provided at defendant’s refill stations; and failed to take any steps to remedy its discriminatory conduct.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks permanent injunction prohibiting defendant from violating the ADA, permanent injunction requiring defendant to take the necessary steps to make their refill stations readily accessible to and usable by blind and visually impaired individuals, attorneys’ fees, expenses and costs and such other and further relief as the court deems just and proper. He is represented by Roberto Luis Costales of Roberto Luis Costales Law Office in New Orleans and William H. Beaumont of William H. Beaumont Law in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-04364