WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with AMC Entertainment Inc.
A federal lawsuit filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) challenged the design of stadium-style movie theaters, which failed to provide persons who use wheelchairs with comparable lines of sight to those of other moviegoers.
Going to the movies is an archetypal American leisure activity, said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.
Today’s settlement agreement will improve the movie-going experience for people who use wheelchairs and their companions at AMC stadium-style theaters nationwide.
All stadium-style theaters opened by AMC after entry of the decree will be constructed in accordance with design requirements that place accessible seating near the middle of the auditorium.
During the course of the lawsuit, AMC, with the approval of the Department of Justice, made changes to its stadium theater design template that provided full accessibility to its newly constructed theaters.
Additionally, at nearly 250 existing stadium-style theaters across the country, AMC has agreed to make sure that a specified percentage of auditoriums provide wheelchair spaces and companion seating in the stadium section.
AMC also will move wheelchair seating from the front row to locations further back from the screen and otherwise ensure that movie patrons who use wheelchairs enjoy an unobstructed view of the screen.
The Justice Department filed suit to enforce the ADA in January 1999 in federal court in Los Angeles.
People interested in finding out more about the ADA can call the Justice Department’s toll-free Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access the ADA homepage at: www.ada.gov
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