Phoenix Sports Bar Settles Service Animal Disability Lawsuit

justice money

PHOENIX – O’Brien’s Sports Bar and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office have reached a settlement in a disability lawsuit involving the denial of service to a man with a brain injury who uses a service animal. Obrigis LLC, doing business as O’Brien’s Sports Bar was sued under the Arizonans with Disabilities Act in October 2019.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office alleged that O’Brien’s Sports Bar violated the Arizonans with Disabilities Act (AzDA) when O’Brien’s employees told Bill Larson that his service animal, Whopper, was not allowed in the bar and that he would have to leave.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Larson has a “brain injury which causes him to experience transient ischemic attacks (“mini-strokes”). His American Bulldog “Whopper” is a service animal, trained to detect the onset of a transient ischemic attack and alert Larson so that he may take steps to ensure his safety and the safety of others.”

As part of the settlement, O’Brien’s has agreed to pay monetary damages of $7,500 to Mr. Larson and $2,500 in a civil penalty to the state.

O’Brien’s has also agreed to:

  • Create and disseminate policies (1) prohibiting discrimination based on disability; (2) modifying policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination against individuals with disabilities and their service animals; and (3) prohibiting retaliation;
  • Pay for and participate in robust training for all managers, supervisors, officers, members, and owners on public accommodations obligations under the AzDA and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and
  • Maintain a prominently displayed poster informing the public that service animals are welcome in O’Brien’s establishment, including a reference to the AzDA.
About ADI Staff Reporter 12171 Articles
Under the leadership of Editor-in -Chief Huey Freeman, our team of staff reporters bring accurate,timely, and complete news coverage.