The professional American football team San Francisco 49ers, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Santa Clara agreed to pay $24 million to the plaintiffs involved in a disability lawsuit, who encountered barriers in buying tickets, parking, reaching their seats, and even using the restrooms. The defendants have also agreed to revamp Levi’s Stadium and its parking to make it more accessible to people with disabilities in a proposed settlement.
Several lawsuits were filed against the defendants by disabled fans claiming they faced difficulty, discomfort, or embarrassment at the stadium due to the barriers. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh declared the lawsuits as a class action on behalf of mobility-impaired stadium-goers.
The plaintiffs, as many as 6,000, who faced problems at the stadium since it opened in 2014, can seek compensation of $4,000 and max up to $80,000 per person, for their every visit at the stadium. The amount may reduce depending upon the valid claims. The settlement is now pending before a federal judge in San Jose.
