Naming U President Bernie Machen both professionally and personally as well as other U officials, a Salt Lake woman filed a lawsuit against the U, saying that the U failed to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
When Mandi Maree Shaw attended a gymnastics meet in mid-March, she said that handicapped parking places weren’t located in the closest lot to the arena as required by federal legislation. Filed in the U.S. District Court, the suit asks for a ruling forcing the U to designate spaces closer to the recreational arena. Shaw’s suit also seeks attorney fees and damages for her inconvenience. She said her physical impairments limit her ability to walk.
U officials were shocked by the lawsuit. Until the U received a copy of the suit, it had not heard a single complaint, said Robert Payne, U associate general council. Payne also said it is strange for a lawsuit like this to specifically name individuals.
Alma Allred, director of Parking and Transportation Services was one of the officials cited personally in the lawsuit.
Allred said plenty of handicap parking is available during all events at the Huntsman center.
“We rope off basically one bay of the parking lot just east of the arena. [The lot] is in the direct path of travel and is the only side of the building that has a handicap ramp,” he said. “We have measured it a number of times and [the lot] is just as close to the Huntsman Center as any other lot.”
Payne said he hopes the issue will be settled as quickly as possible out of court.