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Peoria hotel settles with U.S. Department of Justice over alleged ADA violations

A gavel rests on a judge's bench in a blurry courtroom. The text "WCBU Courts" sits on top of that photo.

A Peoria hotel operator has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice for alleged Americans with Disabilities Act violations.

A person with a disability said the Hampton Inn and Suites Peoria at Grand Prairie provided them a room without bathroom grab bars. When they brought this up to the staff, the hotel claimed no physically accessible rooms were available and canceled the person's reservation because they did not want to accept "liability" for them.

The out-of-town visitor was then left stranded with nowhere to stay, the complaint said.

The DOJ settlement requires hotel owner Mark Petersen and Petersen Hospitality to train staff and provide equal service to customers with disabilities. The settlement doesn't require the hotel to admit violating the ADA, but it does require the individual who filed the complaint receive a payment.

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Tim is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.