RBBG’s Ernest Galvan and Cara Trapani are representing the plaintiff Rena Wyman in this case. The press release is set out below. A copy of the complaint is here: Wyman v High Times 09-24-2018 The motion for preliminary injunction is here: Motion, MPA re Preliminary Injunction, 09-25-2018 Selected media coverage: High Times, Cal Expo sued over ADA inaccessibility at cannabis cup, Fox40 News, September 25, 2018
Disability Rights Activist Files ADA Lawsuit Against High Times and Cal Expo Over Inaccessibility of Cannabis Cup Events
Sacramento, CA – September 25, 2018 – Rena Wyman, a resident of Willows, California who has a physical disability and travels to events in a wheelchair, has filed suit in federal court in Sacramento against High Times Productions, Inc. (“High Times”) and California Exposition and State Fair (“Cal Expo”) challenging the lack of access to the company’s Cannabis Cup events in Sacramento at the California Expo Fairgrounds.
The suit seeks removal of access barriers, and affirmative changes to policies and procedures as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794, et seq., the California Unruh Civil Rights Act, Cal. Civ. Code §§ 51 & 52, and the California Disabled Persons Act, Cal. Civ. Code §§ 54-54.3.
Ms. Wyman is asking the court to issue a preliminary injunction ordering Defendants to make wheelchair accessible future High Times events and events that take place at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds, including the High Times Cannabis Cup event currently scheduled to take place at Cal Expo on October 27 and 28, 2018.
“In 2018, when we have just celebrated the 28th anniversary of the ADA, it’s outrageous that a high-profile company like High Times has made so little effort to comply with the law in the staging of this popular event,” said Ernest Galvan of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP, attorney for Ms. Wyman.
“It’s reasonably simple to make events such as these accessible,” said Ms. Wyman. “We know how to do this. I’ve been trying for two years to talk to the people at High Times and ask them to take simple steps to correct a whole host of accessibility problems at Cannabis Cup, but they’ve showed no interest in talking to me and have taken no steps to fix the issues.”
According to the complaint, “In 2017, Ms. Wyman attempted to contact High Times to request information regarding wheelchair accessibility at a Cannabis Cup festival in Northern California, where Ms. Wyman lives. However, the vast majority of Ms. Wyman’s requests for information were ignored. Frustrated and humiliated, Ms. Wyman was deterred from attending the event. Hoping for a better result, Ms. Wyman decided to contact High Times again in 2018 ahead of a Cannabis Cup festival scheduled for May 4 and 5, 2018 at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento, California. Once again, High Times ignored Ms. Wyman’s numerous communications. Ms. Wyman decided to go to the event anyway. She was met with numerous accessibility barriers. Due to the lack of accessible paths of travel, bathrooms, viewing areas, vendor booths, and various events throughout the weekend, Ms. Wyman was denied full and equal access to the event, and was physically injured when trying to negotiate the accessibility barriers.”
The case is Wyman v. High Times Productions, Inc. et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 2:18-cv-02621-TLN-EFB.
Selected media coverage:
High Times, Cal Expo sued over ADA inaccessibility at cannabis cup, Fox40 News, September 25, 2018