A Louisiana woman is taking legal action against two companies, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state human rights laws. M. Claudia Garofalo filed a complaint on October 8, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against O & E Leasing LLC and Shogun International, Inc., citing numerous accessibility issues at a Metairie restaurant.
The lawsuit centers around Garofalo's experiences at Shogun, a restaurant located at 2325 Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, Louisiana. As a paraplegic who relies on a wheelchair for mobility, Garofalo claims that her visits to the establishment have been marred by significant barriers to access. According to the complaint, during her most recent visit on August 4, 2024, she was unable to use the women's restroom due to an excessively narrow path that could not accommodate her wheelchair. "The path to the women’s restroom is too narrow for a wheelchair," Garofalo stated in her complaint. Despite notifying staff about these issues during multiple visits, she alleges that no changes have been made.
Garofalo accuses the defendants of failing to comply with both federal and state disability laws by maintaining inaccessible facilities. The lawsuit highlights several alleged ADA violations including steep slopes in designated-accessible parking spaces and ramps lacking necessary handrails or edge protection. Furthermore, Garofalo argues that these barriers are easily removable without imposing undue burden on the defendants.
In her legal filing, Garofalo seeks declaratory and injunctive relief mandating that the property be altered to comply with ADA standards. She also requests compensatory damages under Louisiana's human rights statutes for what she describes as discriminatory practices by denying her full enjoyment of services due to her disability. Additionally, she seeks coverage for attorneys' fees and related costs incurred through this litigation.
Representing Garofalo are attorneys Andrew D. Bizer, Garret S. DeReus, and Eva M. Kalikoff from Bizer & DeReus LLC based in New Orleans. The case has been assigned Case ID 2:24-cv-02431 but does not yet list specific judges overseeing it.