Settlement Reached in Dollar General ADA Class Action Lawsuit

Dollar General must keep its stores’ aisles clear of clutter so that people in wheelchairs can move around without difficulty, according to a proposed class action settlement agreement.

Rebecca Nocera, the lead plaintiff, filed a class action lawsuit against Dollar General in 2018, arguing shoppers in wheelchairs were unable to navigate stores because they were blocked with merchandise.

In the settlement agreement, Dollar General says they’ll work to keep aisles free from boxes and unshelved products moving forward, along with better staff training. 

Part of the deal also means Dollar General will be setting up a hotline for consumers to call if future violations occur, according to the filing, posted clearly at store entrances. Dollar General will be including accessibility checks during quarterly inspections, according to the settlement. 

Dollar General also agrees to having attorneys for the proposed class conduct surprise inspections to check for compliance. 

Dollar General initially fought the class action lawsuit and wanted it dismissed in 2019. 

In a motion filed in 2018, the discount retailer argued the blocking of aisles was only temporary and eventually was cleared. The judge rejected the motion on the grounds it didn’t relate to the initial complaint’s claims. 

The case was later merged with two other lawsuits against Dollar General with ADA violation allegations, according to Law360. 

Negotiations on the settlement began in Feb. 2020 and eventually resulted in this current deal. 

Dollar General doesn’t admit to any wrongdoing with this settlement and will payout no money to class members, but lead plaintiffs will be awarded $1,000 each. 

In the proposed deal, Dollar General will publish details on the settlement on a website dedicated to the lawsuit. The company will also be sending notices of their plan to keep stores ADA compliant to organizations serving the interests of people with disabilities. 

Violations of the ADA have been invoked in scores of class action lawsuits. Read more about a recent class action lawsuit filed against three high end clothing retailers. 

What do you think of this proposed settlement deal with Dollar General? Let us know in the comments below. 

Counsel representing the plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit are R. Bruce Carlson, Kelly K. Iverson, Christina Asbee and Amanda Pearlstein of Disability Rights New York.   

The Dollar General ADA Class Action Lawsuit is Nocera, et al. v. Dollar General Corporation, et al., Case No.  2:18-cv-01222 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. 

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

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• Amtrak Agrees to $2.25M Settlement Over Alleged ADA Violations
• Edible Arrangements, Black Rifle Coffee, Medifast Hit With ADA Class Action Lawsuits
• Lyft Wheelchair Accessibility Class Action Lawsuit Dodges Dismissal