In a striking legal battle, a Florida resident has taken on a major hotel chain over alleged discriminatory practices against individuals with disabilities. Christopher McNaughton filed a class action complaint against Hyatt Hotels Corporation and its subsidiary, Select Hotels Group, LLC, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on June 5, 2024.
McNaughton accuses Hyatt of violating Title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) by imposing "pet fees" on customers who stay at their hotels with service animals. According to the complaint, these fees are not only illegal but also discriminatory as they unfairly burden individuals with disabilities who rely on service animals for assistance. The lawsuit highlights that this practice is consistent across various Hyatt properties and cites the company's "Guide for Dog Owners," which enforces these fees without exception for service animals.
The plaintiff recounts his own experience from February 6, 2023, when he stayed at a Hyatt Place hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Accompanied by his service dog Cali, McNaughton was charged a $75 pet fee despite informing the hotel staff that Cali was a service animal. Upon receiving an invoice that included this fee, McNaughton contacted the hotel to contest it but was met with refusal to waive the charge due to company policy. This incident exemplifies what McNaughton claims is a systemic issue within Hyatt's operations that deters individuals with disabilities from accessing their services freely.
McNaughton's complaint seeks multiple forms of relief from the court. He requests an injunction to stop Hyatt from continuing this practice and demands restitution for unjust enrichment derived from these illegal charges. Additionally, he calls for declaratory relief to affirm that Hyatt's policies violate ADA regulations and seeks both actual and punitive damages for himself and other similarly affected individuals.
Representing McNaughton are attorneys Edwin J. Kilpela Jr. and Paige T. Noah from Wade Kilpela Slade LLP based in Pittsburgh, PA. The case has been assigned Civil Action No. 2:24-cv-814 under Judge J.