Lawsuit: Aldi violates Americans with Disabilities Act

A federal lawsuit filed Monday in Pittsburgh against grocery store chain Aldi alleges that at least sevenof the company’s stores are not kept up to standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court by Richard Dieter, who lives in the Pittsburgh area, is seeking classaction status on behalf of himself and other disabled Aldicustomers.

Mr. Dieter said in the lawsuitthat he has a physical disability that causes him to rely on a wheelchair for mobility. While visiting two Aldi locations in the region last year, Mr. Dieter said, he struggled due to sloped parking spaces andother ADA violations.

Investigators inspected seven Aldi locations in Pennsylvania, New York and North Carolina on the plaintiff’s behalf. One location did not have a designated van-accessible area, while others had grocery aisles or parking spaces with a slope greater than 2.1 percent, according to the suit. The limit for slopes is 1.48 percent, which the ADA says is fairly easy to exceed because lots and garages may be sloped for water drainage.

The plaintiff argued that until Aldi complies with ADA standards, he and fellow disabled customers will not have full access to the company’sstores.

Aldi officials could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

The suit says the company must renovate its parking lots and stores to reflect the needs of customers who rely on wheelchairs or other devices for mobility.

Mr. Dieter is asking Aldi to pay for his attorney fees, costs of the suit and whatever restitution is deemed necessary.

He is being represented by Benjamin Sweet, a Pittsburgh attorney whose firm has filed suits across the country on behalf of people with disabilities, including one against UPMC in March because of parking spaces with slopes, a lack of proper signageand other violations.