A federal judge has ruled that Taco Bell California violated federal and state disability discrimination laws by failing to remove barriers that violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. The judge will now rule on what kind of improvements the company needs to make to its 220 stores in California in order to comply with the Act. The judge will also decide how much the company will pay the thousands of customers who are included in the disability rights class action lawsuit.

The disability rights lawsuit had claimed that Taco Bell stores in California failed to provide disabled-friendly features including wheelchair accessible tables, and adequate handicapped parking. The lawsuit also alleged failure to provide wheelchair-accessible restrooms and other accommodations as required by both federal and California laws. Taco Bell argued that it has fixed several of the violations, but the judge found that the company was still not compliant in many areas.

Workplaces, businesses, commercial spaces and all kinds of public properties are required to facilitate access for persons with disabilities under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Persons whose access to commercial and business public spaces may be limited include persons with learning disability, hearing impairment, vision impairment and mobility impairment.

The Americans with Disabilities Act prevents discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of disability. The Act also requires that places of public accommodation and commercial facilities be designed, built and modified to comply with the standards established by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Often, California disability rights lawyers find that employers, business owners and owners of properties fail to comply with laws requiring accessibility to the disabled because they are unaware of these laws, or have been poorly advised.