March has been a stormy month for retail attorneys, as ADA lawsuits are back on the docket.
This week, a Colorado subsidiary of Kroger Co., agreed to make improvements to 101 King Soopers and 35 City Market stores as part of a settlement with Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition. Although there was no financial award, the company will work with Access By Design, an accessibility consulting firm, to improve accessibility in parking lots, service counters and check-out lanes.
The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition is the same group that earlier this month settled a 1999 suit against Kmart for $16.25 million -- the largest such award to date. (Macy's paid $2.8 million in 2001 to settle an accessibility claim.)
Kmart also agreed to spend as much as $70 million in the next eight years to bring its stores into compliance with federal standards for merchandise placement, counters, restrooms, fitting rooms and parking lots.
I hate to speculate as to what sort of financial toll this $80 million-plus pricetag will take on Kmart (Sears Holdings), which is already struggling with declining sales.
And March isn't going out like a lamb either. Now Target has been sued because its Web site is inaccessible to the blind...
--Karen Schaffner

Home»»




