Foley v. City of Lafayette
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
359 F.3d 925 (2004)
- Written by Jamie Milne, JD
Facts
Robert Foley (plaintiff), who used a wheelchair, traveled by train to Lafayette, Indiana, to visit family. The City of Lafayette (the city) (defendant) owned and operated Lafayette’s only train station. Because of the station’s multilevel design, arriving passengers had to use stairs, elevators, or ramps to exit the station. When Foley arrived, Lafayette was experiencing blizzard-like conditions, and neither of the station’s elevators were working. A station employee called a local repairman, who determined that the heating elements necessary for the elevators to operate in extreme cold were worn out. New parts were needed, preventing immediate repair. Foley also could not use the station’s ramps as an alternative because they were covered in snow. The condition of the elevators and ramps significantly delayed Foley while he waited for the assistance necessary to help him leave the station. Foley subsequently sued the city. He argued, among other things, that the lack of equal egress from the station amounted to discrimination violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The district court granted summary judgment in the city’s favor, finding that the temporary conditions at the station did not violate the ADA. Foley appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Kanne, J.)
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