Associated Press: Blockbuster settles disabilities case

(AP) – 17 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has reached a settlement with Blockbuster Inc. designed to ensure equal access at more than 3,000 Blockbuster retail stores for disabled customers who use service animals.

Federal law requires that disabled people accompanied by a service animal be allowed to go anywhere in a store that other customers go.

Under the agreement announced Monday, Blockbuster must post its service animal policies, provide training to employees, create a toll-free complaint line, monitor a grievance procedure and pay $12,000 in damages to the individual who filed the complaint under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The company also must pay $10,000 as a civil penalty.

Service animals, mostly dogs, help guide blind people, alert the deaf to sounds, help pull wheelchairs and perform other tasks for disabled people.

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