SPOKANE, Wash. — The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington announced on Thursday that Inland Northwest Behavioral Health has reached a settlement agreement after it was investigated for alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The facility will take remedial measures over the next two years and pay $10,000 in compensatory damages.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, a former patient of Inland Northwest Behavioral Health claimed 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 with the service animal.
Inland Northwest Behavioral Health cooperated with the investigation after a complaint was filed and agreed to take concrete remedial measures to comply with the ADA.
Inland Northwest Behavioral Health is required to pay $10,000 in compensatory damages to the individual with disabilities.
Additionally, the settlement outlines the following requirements expected of Inland Northwest Behavioral Health moving forward:
- Implement and utilize a written Title III ADA service animal policy
- Require annual employee training addressing the requirements of the ADA
- Post visible 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 Vanessa R. Waldref. “My office will continue to protect the civil rights of all citizens in our district.”
The public is encouraged to report suspected ADA violations at ADA.gov or at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at USAWAE.CivilRights@usdoj.gov or by calling the Civil Rights Complaint Line at (509) 835-6306.
