Scottish Bank Loses In Wheelchair Lift Suit

David Allen - RBS Wheelchair Access

(Via The Guardian UK): 18-year old Brit, David Allen, who has muscular dystrophy, has successfully sued the Royal Bank Of Scotland (RBS) for not installing wheelchair access at his local branch in Sheffield, England.

The bank then appealed the suit and lost. RBS has to pay the disabled young man £6,500 in damages, as well as putting in the access for wheelchairs.

The Royal Bank of Scotland lost its appeal over a ruling that it failed to cater for the wheelchair access needs of a disabled teenager who was awarded £6,500 damages. The suit arose because Allen could not access counter service in the old building, and the bank was unwilling to do the ncessary work to put in a wheelchair lift or wheelchair ramp. The courts found that RBS had violated the Disability Discrimination Act. The bank did apologize to Allen at trial.

The case is interesting, though, because Allen did have access to other branches with disability services, and RBS did offer banking via internet and phone.