The Supreme Court dismissed a case involving a Maine hotel that could have made it more difficult for people with disabilities to find out in advance whether hotel accommodations will meet their needs
By means ofThe Associated Press
December 5, 2023, 10:34 am
FILE – The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. The Supreme Court on Tuesday, Dec. 5, dismissed a case involving a Maine hotel that could have made it more difficult for people with disabilities to find out in advance whether a hotel's accommodations will meet their needs. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, file)
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a case involving a Maine hotel that could have made it more difficult for people with disabilities to find out in advance whether a hotel's accommodations will meet their needs.
Hotels and other business interests had urged the judges to limit the ability of so-called testers to file lawsuits against hotels that fail to disclose accessibility information on their websites and through other reservation services.
The information is required by a 2010 Justice Department rule. People who are victims of discrimination can file suit under the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act, which was signed into law in 1990.
The judges have not ruled on the merits of the case. Instead, they dismissed the case, rejecting a lower court ruling in favor of tester lawsuits. The outcome leaves the issue unresolved nationwide.
Federal courts in some parts of the country allow such lawsuits. In other cases, these lawsuits are excluded.
The case before the court concerned whether Deborah Laufer, a woman with a disability, has the right to sue a hotel in Maine that does not have accessibility information on its website, despite having no plans to do so. visits.
In an effort to avoid an adverse ruling, Laufer withdrew her lawsuit against the hotel.
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