Newtown Restaurant Settles ADA Complaint: Feds

NEWTOWN, CT — A Newtown restaurant has reached a settlement with the federal government addressing allegations of non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

The agreement resolves a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice that alleged that Carminuccio’s Pizza on South Main Street in Newtown was not accessible to people with mobility disabilities.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Carminuccio’s will make its parking area more accessible and add a ramp to the entrance of the restaurant. In addition, the restaurant will add accessible dining tables and make a number of changes to make the bathroom more accessible. The restaurant has also agreed to comply with Title III of the ADA in all future alterations and renovations.

Under the ADA, public accommodations, including restaurants, are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. As part of that obligation, public accommodations must remove physical barriers to access for individuals with mobility disabilities where doing so is readily achievable. They must also ensure that renovations undertaken after the effective date of the ADA are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities to the maximum extent feasible.

In a news release Friday, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Avery noted that the owner and operator of Carminuccio’s has worked cooperatively with her Office to improve their ADA compliance without litigation. The settlement agreement is effective for three years, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor compliance during that time.

Anyone 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 Civil Rights Intake Specialist at the U.S. Attorney’s Office by calling 203-696-3000.