U.S. Lawyer Information And Concurrently Settles Lawsuit Towards Jujamcyn Theaters LLC To Enhance Accessibility At 5 Of Broadway’s Most Historic Theaters | USAO-SDNY

Audrey Strauss, U.S. Attorney for New York’s Southern District, today announced the filing and settlement of a lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court against JUJAMCYN THEATER LLC, the owners and operators of five of Broadway’s most historic theaters, AL HIRSCHFELD. the EUGENE O’NEILL, the ST. JAMES and WALTER KERR, which involve violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (the “ADA”). The settlement in the form of a decree of approval was registered yesterday by US District Judge Analisa Torres.

US Attorney Strauss said, “As New York City begins to reopen and welcome the world back, we are delighted that Jujamcyn Theaters has worked with the office to improve accessibility to its historic venues for everyone Guests can enjoy Broadway. As a result of this lawsuit and the settlement, combined with similar lawsuits filed by the Office in 2003 against Shubert Theaters and in 2014 against Nederlander Theaters, all three major Broadway theater organizations have committed to making their venues significantly more accessible to people with disabilities . “

According to the complaint and consent decree filed in federal court in Manhattan:

Over years of investigation and negotiation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office found numerous ADA violations in each of the five theaters operated by JUJAMCYN THEATERS LLC, all of which opened in the 1920s. The ADA generally requires that facilities built before the ADA came into effect in 1993 have access barriers removed where readily possible. During the government investigation and Consent Decree negotiations, JUJAMCYN THEATERS LLC agreed to remove hundreds of barriers to entry.

As part of the Consent Decree, JUJAMCYN THEATERS LLC undertakes to continue its efforts to improve accessibility in its theaters, provided that the program in the theaters allows this. In particular, JUJAMCYN THEATERS LLC has agreed to do the following:

• Provide a total of 44 wheelchair-accessible seats and instruct their ticket vendors to give priority to people with disabilities when selling those seats;
• Provide a total of 54 transfer seats for people who can transfer from a wheelchair to a seat and instruct its ticket vendors to give priority to people with disabilities when selling these seats; and
• Removal of around 200 individual barriers for accessibility in theater toilets, concession counters, waiting areas and cash desks.

In addition, JUJAMCYN THEATERS LLC is paying a civil fine of $ 40,000 to the United States.

Since President George HW Bush signed the ADA, the US District Attorney’s Office for the southern borough of New York has played an important role in bringing numerous New York City institutions into compliance with the ADA and its regulations. The Office’s enforcement efforts include Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Shubert Theaters, Nederlander Theaters, Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Opera, Apollo Theater, Puck Building, among others who have favourited Rainbow Room and The Vessel at Hudson Yards.

To file a complaint alleging that public accommodation in the Southern District of New York is inaccessible to people with disabilities, use the civil rights complaint form available on the US Attorney’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys. is available. Complaints should be addressed to:

US Attorney General, Southern District of New York
86 Chambers Street, 3rd floor
New York, New York, 10007
Attention: Chief, Civil Rights Unit

The case is handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Department. U.S. Assistant Attorney David J. Kennedy is leading the case.