LAFAYETTE — A disabled Caddo Parish man person is suing Shreveport property operators, alleging discrimination against disabled customers.
James Bledsoe filed a lawsuit Aug. 19 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Lafayette Division against Sealy Southtown LLC, Sealy Uptown LLC and Sealy Operation III Inc., alleging failure to uphold Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
According to the complaint, on July 30, Bledsoe visited a Papa Murphy's restaurant on the defendants' property at 4800-5886 Line Ave., Shreveport, and experienced serious difficulty accessing the goods and utilizing the services offered inside. The suit says Bledsoe fears he will continue to experience difficulties accessing the property due to the barriers that still exist.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to adopt any alternatives to barrier removal and failed to provide an equal opportunity for disabled customers to participate in, or benefit from the goods and services being offered to the general public.
Bledsoe seeks trial by jury, an order directing the defendants to make the property accessible to and usable by individuals with mobility disabilities, attorney fees, court costs and expenses, plus all other relief the court deems necessary. He is represented by attorneys Andrew D. Bizer, Garret S. DeReus and Marc P. Florman of The Bizer Law Firm in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Lafayette Division Case number 5:16-cv-01205