• First Reference
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Blog Signup 📨

First Reference Talks

Discussions on Human Resources, Employment Law, Payroll and Internal Controls

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives
  • Resources
You are here: Home / Accessibility Standards / Lawyer receives $1,000 for four minute wait constituting human rights breach

By Devry Smith Frank LLP | 2 Minutes Read October 9, 2015

Lawyer receives $1,000 for four minute wait constituting human rights breach

Image: www.accessiblecustomerservicetraining.com
Image: www.accessiblecustomerservicetraining.com
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario recently awarded an Ontario lawyer, Andrew Sprague, $1,000 for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect, as a result of his being stopped from entering the Riocan Empress Walk mall with his service dog. At the time, the dog, Flicka, was wearing a blue vest, which identifies her as a services animal and which carries her certification information. Nevertheless, Sprague was stopped at the entrance to the mall, on the basis that the dog may not be allowed to enter.

Factoring into Sprague’s human rights complaint was the fact that he was accompanied by his wife, who was nine months pregnant. They were required to stand in the entrance to the mall while security watched them on the video camera, supposedly “seeking clarification” from a supervisor. During this time, Sprague grew concerned about his wife, who was in physical distress, and ultimately had to go speak with a supervisor himself in order to be permitted to enter the building.

In the end, the couple was allowed to enter the mall on the basis that the dog was, in fact, a service dog, but the circumstances of this short but unpleasant delay cost the mall’s owner, Riocan, $1,000 in damages. The security officers’ failure to recognize the legitimacy of the service animal and their public embarrassment of the couple who were stopped for this reason and made to wait in view of the other shoppers, constituted a breach of Sprague’s protected rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

By Marty Rabinovitch and Michelle Stephenson, Student-at-Law, Devry Smith Frank LLP

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Follow me
Devry Smith Frank LLP
Employment and labour lawyers at Devry Smith Frank LLP
Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) is the largest full service law firm in Toronto outside of the downtown core. They offer a broad range of legal services to individual, business and corporate clients in most areas of corporate and personal law. Their firm’s employment law group covers a broad spectrum of HR law, including employment and labour law, occupational health & safety, human rights, workers’ compensation and much more.Lawyers at Devry Smith Frank LLP lead by Marty Rabinovitch B.A.H., LL.B. will be covering issues surrounding employment and labour law and human rights on First Reference Talks. They also provide training, seminars and conferences on the above topics.
Follow me
Latest posts by Devry Smith Frank LLP (see all)
  • The Canada Labour Code & employer releases - April 22, 2020
  • The Canada Labour Code & employer releases - March 25, 2020
  • What the Coronavirus means for Canadian employers - February 26, 2020

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Mastodon

Article by Devry Smith Frank LLP / Accessibility Standards, Employee Relations, Human Rights, Payroll / accessibility, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, AODA, employment law, human rights breach, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, physical distress, Riocan Empress Walk mall, service dog, services animal

The Essential HR Policy Guide Banner

Get the Latest Posts in your Inbox for Free!

About Devry Smith Frank LLP

Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) is the largest full service law firm in Toronto outside of the downtown core. They offer a broad range of legal services to individual, business and corporate clients in most areas of corporate and personal law. Their firm’s employment law group covers a broad spectrum of HR law, including employment and labour law, occupational health & safety, human rights, workers’ compensation and much more. Lawyers at Devry Smith Frank LLP lead by Marty Rabinovitch B.A.H., LL.B. will be covering issues surrounding employment and labour law and human rights on First Reference Talks. They also provide training, seminars and conferences on the above topics.

About us

Established in 1995, First Reference is the leading publisher of up to date, practical and authoritative HR compliance and policy databases that are essential to ensure organizations meet their due diligence and duty of care requirements.

First Reference Talks

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives
  • Resources

Main Menu

  • About First Reference
  • Resources
  • Contact us
  • 1 800 750 8175

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

We welcome your comments on our blog articles. However, we do not respond to specific legal questions in this space.
We do not provide any form of legal advice or legal opinion. Please consult a lawyer in your jurisdiction or try one of our products.


Copyright © 2009 - 2023 · First Reference Inc. · All Rights Reserved
Legal and Copyright Notices · Publisher's Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Accessibility Policy

 

Loading Comments...