In this episode of Disability Rights Today, we focus on the court case of C.L. v. Del Amo Hospital, Inc. In this case, the plaintiff C.L., had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions. She obtained a dog, with the intent to train the dog, Aspen, to be a service animal. While seeking inpatient treatment at Del Almo Hospital, the plaintiff’s dog was denied admission because her dog was not deemed a service animal. Please join us as we welcome three of the counsel for the plaintiff in this case: Christopher Knauf, JD, Disability Rights Legal Center, Founder Knauf Associates; Jennifer Mathis, JD, Deputy Legal Director and Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; and Celia McGuiness, Derby, McGuinness & Goldsmith, LLP. They are joined by Dr. Peter Blanck, JD, Ph.D. – Director of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University for a discussion of the facts of the case, issues of the case, arguments of the case, and discussion of implications for policy and practice moving forward will be our focus.
Keywords: ADA, service dog, public accommodation, dog training, PTSD