The FABCO Shoe chain will shell out $10,000 to Brooklynite Amal Mohamed, a disabled woman who claims she was kicked out of a Bensonhurst FABCO branch because of her motorized wheelchair, announced Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch on Tuesday, April 14.
Mohamed alleged in a federal civil rights suit against the company that on May 1, 2013 she entered the branch at 2171 86th Street to buy shoes for herself and her children when she was told to leave because the tires on her motorized wheelchair might soil the store’s carpet.
At that point, Mohamed claims, a FABCO employee attempted to remove her physically from the store and stopped “only when the employee discovered the wheelchair was too heavy to be moved.”
“Instead of treating Mrs. Mohammad like any other customer, FABCO violated her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not allowing her to shop for herself and her children and attempting to remove her from the store,” said Lynch in a statement. “This settlement serves notice that store owners who fail to respect the rights of individuals with disabilities will be held accountable for their actions.”
Under the settlement, FABCO will train all of its store managers to comply with ADA regulations as well as post signs in each of its 51 stores welcoming those with disabilities.
The ADA, as stated by the U.S. Department of Justice, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires public places to make reasonable accommodations to allow people with disabilities to use and enjoy their facilities.
It was enacted by Congress in 1990.
FABCO owns and operates 51 discount shoe stores throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, as well as in New Jersey and Westchester County.
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