Newtown Restaurant to Improve Accessibility in ADA Settlement

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the U.S. Attorney's Office has reached a settlement with Carminuccio's Pizza, LLC, a restaurant located on South Main Street in Newtown, to address allegations of non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA").

The agreement resolves a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice that alleged that Carminuccio's Pizza, LLC ("Carminuccio's") was not accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities. Under the ADA, public accommodations, including restaurants, are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. As part of that obligation, public accommodations must remove physical barriers to access for individuals with mobility disabilities where doing so is readily achievable. They must also ensure that renovations undertaken after the effective date of the ADA are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities to the maximum extent feasible.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Carminuccio's will make its parking area more accessible and add a ramp to the entrance of the restaurant. In addition, the restaurant will add accessible dining tables and make a number of changes to make the bathroom more accessible. The restaurant has also agreed to comply with Title III of the ADA in all future alterations and renovations.

U.S. Attorney Avery noted that the owner and operator of Carminuccio's has worked cooperatively with the U.S. Attorney's Office to improve their ADA compliance without litigation. The settlement agreement is effective for three years, and the U.S. Attorney's Office will monitor compliance during that time.

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart C. Dearing.

Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the Civil Rights Intake Specialist at the U.S. Attorney's Office by calling 203-696-3000.

Additional information about the ADA may be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department's toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (833) 610-1264 (TTY). More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.