CRANSTON, R.I., Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Matthew McCarthy of Cranston has filed suit against multiple State
authorities and local businesses entities claiming he was the
subject of selective discrimination, physical abuse, and
humiliation targeting his use of a service dog. Amongst the
numerous claims listed in the lawsuit, Mr. McCarthy, who is legally
blind in his left eye, alleges that on multiple occasions he was
denied services by The Rhode Island Department of Public
Transportation (RIPTA), claiming they refused to recognize his
American Staffordshire Terrier as a service animal. The suit
further contends that this discrimination by RIPTA lead to a series
of interactions with local law enforcement who sided with RIPTA.
According to the filings, on more than one occasion, Mr. McCarthy
was physically abused by RIPTA employees once he began to
successfully record the hostile encounters. Mr. McCarthy's suit
also lists multiple Rhode Island
businesses where similar discrimination has occurred, including a
fast food franchise, gym, and pubic gathering facilities. His legal
team argues that despite the clear guidelines expressly prohibiting
disabled Americans from having to prove that their dog is certified
or has "papers", as dictated by the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and the laws of Rhode
Island, Mr. McCarthy has been asked repeatedly for this
documentation by RIPTA and local police. According to the attorneys
representing Mr. McCarthy, Paige
Munro-Delotto, of Munro-Delotto Law, LLC, and
Amy Veri, "The ADA outlines that
states, cities, and businesses open to the public are prohibited of
requiring such proof. In addition, if a violation is found,
awarding victims economic damages and mandatory attorney's fees.
Rhode Island law further
authorizes courts to award punitive damages and impose civil
fines."
Mr. McCarthy has filed formal charges in Rhode Island Superior
Court, with a number of his claims having already received
"probable cause" findings by the Rhode
Island Commission of Human Rights.
For more information about this topic, please contact Pink
Street PR at nkdec@pinkstreetworld.com.
Contact:
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Niki Dec
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Telephone:
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917-597-0464
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Email:
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nkdec@pinkstreetworld.com
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Website:
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www.pinkstreetworld.com
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content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blind-rhode-island-man-receives-repeated-discrimination-from-state-and-local-authorities-over-the-credibility-and-breed-of-his-service-dog-300729663.html
SOURCE Munro-Delotto Law, LLC