Tuesday, July 27, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.
Nevadans for Equal Access, a nonprofit group that represents the interests of people with disabilities, has filed federal lawsuits against four Las Vegas businesses alleging they violated federal and state accessibility laws.
The lawsuits were filed Friday in U.S. District Court against two Purrfect Auto Service stores, one at East Craig Road and North Lamb and another at North Lamb Road and Las Vegas Boulevard North, as well as the owner of a shopping center at South Highland Drive and East Desert Inn Road and the owner of a 99 Cents Store on East Lake Mead Boulevard west of North Nellis Boulevard.
The suit filed on behalf of Dianne Resetar against the two Purrfect Auto stores, which are owned by DiRossi Investments Inc., alleged the auto service facilities were in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act in that the facilities had parking spaces for people with disabilities but that they were used to park cars that were being serviced and weren't available for customers. Daniel Ebihara, an attorney for Nevadans for Equal Access, said he was told Monday Purrfect Auto is willing to settle the suit.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Richard Hapiuk against Highland Partners, which owns the shopping center where Kiesub Electronics is located, alleges the store didn't have parking spaces for people with disabilities and the only way to enter was through a flight of stairs.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Michael Wertz against the 99 Cents Store alleged that the store's parking spaces for people with disabilities are not easily accessible to the entrance of the store, that the store's aisles were too narrow and that the store's counters and ATM machines were not at an accessible height for some people with disabilities.
Paul Martin, president of Nevadans for Equal Access, said the lawsuits were filed after investigations by the group were performed and "demand letters" seeking improvements to accessibility were sent. He said the lawsuits are filed only to force the companies to make the accessibility changes and not to get monetary damages.
"We only ask for the situation to be corrected. We're willing to go out and work with the property owners, " Martin said.
Julio Paredes, a resident agent of Mercado Del Pueblo, parent of the 99 Cents Store, said he was unaware of the lawsuit.
Representatives for the other defendants could not be reached for comment.
In the long run, Ebihara said, the lawsuits help the companies to reach out to more customers.
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