Everybody knows that dogs are man’s best friend, and that service dogs are little four-legged angels helping people in need with various ailments, disabilities and otherwise damaging conditions. Everybody except the San Francisco 49ers, apparently.
A San Francisco man is accusing the organization of kicking him and his service dog out of the November 29 game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium, an act he says is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. James Hilburn and his Alaskan malamute, Bear, had no hassles getting into the game, but apparently they were escorted out of the stadium shortly thereafter resulting in Hilburn suffering a seizure. Now he’s suing for $10 million saying the incident caused emotional and physical pain and suffering along with the seizure that resulted in a stay in the hospital.
Hilburn has been diagnosed with myoclonic dystonia, which can cause seizures, and TMZ obtained video of the incident in which his dog can be heard yelping while he and a friend warn a security officer about his condition. The lawsuit accuses the organization of violating the Levi’s Stadium animal policy which allows “service animals and service animals in training” into the stadium. It also states the team discriminated against him with “oppression, fraud and malice.” Per the organizational policy the 49ers have not commented on the lawsuit.
(Via NBC Bay Area)
