QuikTrip Sued for ADA Discrimination

QuikTrip Sued for ADA Discrimination, Pays $1.5 Million Settlement

Crime: Discrimination Against Individuals with Disabilities

A federal court has forced QuikTrip Corporation to pay over $1.5 million in damages to 47 individuals with disabilities who experienced repeated and extensive accessibility barriers at the company’s gas stations and convenience stores across the United States.

The payments were made under a consent decree previously reached with QuikTrip, which required the company to make all of its facilities accessible, adopt accessibility policies and pay a $55,000 civil penalty to the United States. QuikTrip owns and operates nearly 700 gas stations, convenience stores, travel centers and truck stops throughout the Southern, Midwestern and Southwestern United States.

‘Today is an important milestone in making whole individuals with disabilities who experienced repeated and extensive accessibility barriers at QuikTrip facilities across the United States,’ said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights Division. ‘QuikTrip should be commended for working diligently with the department to overhaul its gas stations, stores and policies to comply with the ADA.’

QuikTrip has made all changes required in the consent decree to make their properties ADA accessible. The company’s overhaul includes adopting accessibility policies and paying a $55,000 civil penalty to the United States.

‘Ensuring access to QuikTrip facilities by individuals with disabilities is a significant step by QuikTrip and a win-win resolution,’ said United States Deborah R. Gilg for the District of Nebraska. ‘Individuals with disabilities will no longer encounter barriers to access at these facilities and QuikTrip can profit by providing services to this segment of our population.’

The consent decree was reached under Title III of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by certain businesses that are open to the public, including gas stations, convenience stores and other retailers, both large and small.

According to the consent decree, the company must maintain its accessibility policies and procedures for at least the next 10 years.

For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces, visit www.justice.gov/crt or www.ada.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).