Danbury Hospital, ADA Non-Compliance, Connecticut 2024

U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle announced that Danbury Hospital has reached a settlement agreement to resolve allegations that its Morganti Wound Care Center was not operating in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

"The ADA is essential in ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access to services and opportunities," said Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle. "Our office is committed to protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and ensuring that businesses comply with the ADA."

The settlement resolves an ADA complaint filed by a patient who uses a wheelchair, who alleged that he was denied full and equal access to the services provided by Morganti Wound Care Center based on his disability. He claimed that staff told him he must reschedule his appointment because the center did not have the equipment or training necessary to transfer him from his wheelchair to the examination table.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Danbury Hospital will adopt a nondiscrimination policy that outlines its obligations pursuant to Title III of the ADA. Morganti Wound Care Center will also ensure that individuals with mobility disabilities are afforded equal access to its facilities and services, by training all staff who interact with patients on the requirements of Title III of the ADA as they apply to healthcare facilities and on techniques for safely assisting individuals with mobility disabilities to transfer to examination tables.

Danbury Hospital is also taking steps to ensure that each of its outpatient facilities has and will maintain access to a Hoyer lift, and has implemented other practices to transfer a patient onto examination tables, or other equipment, safely. Danbury Hospital has agreed to compensate the complainant in the amount of $10,000.

"We are pleased that Danbury Hospital has cooperated with our office and is committed to addressing the issues raised by the ADA investigation without litigation," said Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle.

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 U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700.

Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY). More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt."

Related Federal Cases