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Lawsuit Claims Apple Violates Disabled Customer's Rights

Lawsuit Claims Apple Violates Disabled Customer's Rights

by , 10:55 AM EDT, August 31st, 2007

Two wheelchair-bound customers filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc. claiming the company's San Francisco retail store is not properly accessible to wheelchairs. The case filed on behalf of Nicole Brown-Booker and Jana Overbo charges that Apple's store does not provide adequate access to the entrance, elevator, restrooms, and other parts of the building, according to InformationWeek.

Ms. Brown-Booker claimed that when she visited the San Francisco Apple Store, she couldn't reach the elevator buttons, the aisles were too narrow to move her wheelchair through, and the credit card reader at the cash register was out of her reach. The suit claimed that Ms. Overbo signed up for a Genius Bar appointment, but was unable to get the attention of employees behind the bar, and that the lower wheelchair-accessible part of the counter was being used to display a computer.

The suit also stated that items like the iPhone and MacBook Pro computers were placed too high for shoppers in wheelchairs to access.

Both are seeking an injunction requiring Apple to redesign its store to be more wheelchair accessible, and are also asking for unspecified damages for "physical, mental, and emotional injuries."

Apple has also been hit with several other iPhone-specific lawsuits recently. Two focus on the fact that the iPhone's battery is not user replaceable, and a third claims that Apple did not adequately disclose that the iPhone is bound to AT&T's cell service.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Guest
Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:44 pm Subject: How about just telling apple, rather than a lawsuit

Why is it that everyone has to file a lawsuite. Is it not possible in this day and age to complain to the company. Now I realize that many companies don't give the time of day, but eventually you will get someone who will respond going to the next level each time. Then there is the aspect of greed, everyone is convinced that everyone else is ripping them off and they deserve more.
Wake up world, you are shooting yourself.
I am certain that apple would have dealt with this issue if brought to there attention at a corporate level.


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Close Name:Guest
Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:56 pm Subject: How on earth

did Apple get a building permit to begin with if it didn't meet disabled user requirements? Generally speaking, plans have to be submitted and you have to SHOW how you comply, otherwise you aren't allowed to begin construction!

How did they get around the process?


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Close Name:Guest
Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:02 pm Subject: physical injuries...you've got to be kidding

neck pain from looking up a little?
shoulder sprain reaching for the elevator button?

You know, maybe I missed the "if it's not perfect for me, sue" epidemic, but this is ridiculous.


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Close Name:Guest
Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:11 pm Subject: Ask for help?

Just like gas stations will/must come out and pump gas for disabled citizens, I suspect asking for some assistance would go a long ways.


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Close Name:Guest
Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:53 pm Subject:

Are these two people suing every supermarket, since a majority of all products are out of reach of wheelchair-bound customers. Are they Suing Best Buy & Circuit City because there dispaly space is as high as Apple. Just ask for help.


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Close Name:jbruni Posts: 105 Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:07 pm Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
did Apple get a building permit to begin with if it didn't meet disabled user requirements? Generally speaking, plans have to be submitted and you have to SHOW how you comply, otherwise you aren't allowed to begin construction!

How did they get around the process?


They most likely are ADA-compliant.


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Close Name:Guest
Sat Sep 01, 2007 6:51 pm Subject:

I don't think I'll sell my Apple stock just yet...


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Close Name:Guest
Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:23 pm Subject: legal action against Apple

This just goes to show you--- the US is not flat--- the odd balls(nuts) end up rolling to the edges.


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