U.S. Attorney’s Office Reaches Settlement with Inland Northwest Behavioral Health to Ensure Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

Spokane, WA - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Inland Northwest Behavioral Health has agreed to take remedial measures over the next two years and pay ten thousand dollars in compensatory damages to resolve alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

A former patient of Inland Northwest Behavioral Health alleged that he was required to provide documentation of a service animal in violation of the ADA's requirements, that he was not allowed to conduct visitation indoors with the service animal, and that he was segregated from other patients of Inland Northwest Behavioral Health while utilizing the service animal.

Inland Northwest Behavioral Health fully and promptly cooperated with the investigation and agreed to take concrete remedial measures to comply with the ADA.

Under the terms of the settlement, Inland Northwest Behavioral Health is required to pay $10,000 in compensatory damages to the individual with disabilities. The settlement further requires Inland Northwest Behavioral Health to undertake the following:

• Implement and utilize a written Title III ADA service animal policy
• Require annual employee training addressing the requirements of the ADA
• Conspicuously post notices to patients and employees at the facility that service animals are welcome
• Submit reports to the United States Attorney's Office every twelve months for the next two years certifying full compliance with all remedial terms of the agreement and self-reporting any allegations of violations of the ADA so they can be fully investigated.

"The Americans with Disabilities Act provides individuals many protections, including the use of service animals. This agreement compels Inland Northwest Behavioral Health to take steps to make sure this right is protected for individuals in the future." stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. "My office will continue to protect the civil rights of all citizens in our district."

The settlement was the result of a complaint filed on ADA.gov and the resulting investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington. The public is encouraged to report suspected ADA violations at ADA.gov, or individuals can report suspected ADA violations directly to the U.S. Attorney's Office at [email protected] or by calling the Civil Rights Complaint Line at (509) 835-6306. The full settlement agreement, including the required Service Animal Policy, is available at the bottom of this page.

Assistant United States Attorney Jacob E. Brooks of the Eastern District of Washington handled the matter on behalf of the United States.