DENVER—A federal court approved a consent decree with a Colorado Springs attorney accused of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The decree resolves a 2009 lawsuit that alleged Patric LeHouillier (le-HOO’-lee-er) wouldn’t allow veterinarian Joan Murnane or her attorney into his office because Murnane had a service dog.
LeHouillier will pay $30,000 to Murnane, $10,000 to her husband and a $10,000 civil penalty.
Murnane says she has a brain injury and uses a dog to help with vision and other tasks. Murnane says LeHouillier feared the dog would soil his new carpet.
LeHouiller’s said in a statement through his attorney that the allegations against him are false and that he settled the lawsuit because it would’ve been too expensive to defend in court.
