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How to File a Claim for Payment
On July 19, 2010, a consent decree was entered by the U.S. District Court in United States v. QuikTrip Corporation. The decree requires QuikTrip Corporation to establish a $1.5 million fund to compensate individuals who experienced disability discrimination in violation of Title III of the ADA at any QuikTrip gas station, convenience store, truck stop, or travel center. Who may be eligible to receive a payment from the fund? Any person who experienced disability-based discrimination in violation of Title III of the ADA at a QuikTrip gas station, convenience store, truck stop, or travel center will be considered for a possible payment from the fund. Disability discrimination includes, but is not limited to, a denial of equal access or equal services that is based on an individual’s disability. It also includes the failure to make reasonable modifications, such as refusing to provide disability-related assistance needed to access goods or services. If you were denied equal access or service or experienced some other type of disability discrimination when you were a customer at, or trying to access, a QuikTrip facility, you may be eligible to receive compensation from the fund. To be considered for a possible payment, you must file a timely claim. If you are not sure if you experienced discrimination that would be covered by the fund, you should submit a claim. Disability Rights Section staff at the U.S. Department of Justice will interview you and decide if you are eligible. How can I file a claim? You can begin the process of filing a claim by sending your name, address, and day and evening telephone numbers by e-mail to QTclaims@usdoj.gov or by leaving a message at 866-708-1273 (voice mail) or 866-544-5309 (TTY). Act quickly! The time period for filing a claim, established by the consent decree, is approximately 180 days. When leaving a voice mail message, speak clearly and repeat your telephone numbers. If you are difficult to reach by telephone, please let us know the best time of day to call you. Please let us know how to contact you for an interview if you are deaf, are hard of hearing, or have a speech disability (e.g., video phone, TTY) and let us know the types of written materials we should send (e.g., Braille, large print, e-mail) if you are blind or have low vision. If your mailing address, e-mail address, or telephone number changes, please notify us promptly. If you are having problems sending an e-mail or leaving a voice mail or TTY message, please contact the ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY). Our Information Specialists will either assist you or connect you with a member of the QT Claims Team. Information Specialists are available on the ADA Information Line on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). On Thursday, the information line is staffed from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Must an individual with a disability file his or her own claim? No. If an individual with a disability requires assistance, another person may file a claim on that individual’s behalf. Disability Rights Section staff will generally need to interview an individual with a disability and obtain signed documents from that individual before determining if he or she is eligible for payment. If there is a disability-based reason why an interview cannot occur, please provide that information to us when you contact us. What will happen after I file a claim? A staff member of the Disability Rights Section will contact you to conduct an interview and obtain any information and documents needed to determine if you are eligible for payment. Before any payment can be made, individuals found eligible for possible payment must sign certain documents, including a Waiver and Release of Claims against QuikTrip Corporation and a W-9 Form (Request for Taxpayer Information and Certification). Please respond quickly when asked to provide information or sign documents. If you fail to provide requested information or fail to sign documents in a timely manner, you may be denied payment from the fund. How will I know if my claim is received? If you submit a claim by e-mail (QTtclaims@usdoj.gov) and we receive it, you will receive an automatic e-mail confirmation of receipt that you should keep for your records. If you leave a voice mail message or TTY message at one of our toll free telephone numbers – 866-708-1273 (voice mail) or 866-544-5309 (TTY) -- please make a follow-up contact if you do not hear back from the Disability Rights Section within two weeks. If you are having problems reaching the QT Claims Team by e-mail, voice mail, or TTY, please contact the ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY). Our Information Specialists will make arrangements for a member of the QT Claims Team to contact you. Information Specialists are available on the ADA Information Line on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). On Thursday, the information line is staffed from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. How will eligibility for payment be determined? The determination of eligibility for payment and the amount of any payment will be made by the U.S. Department of Justice after all claims have been received. To be determined eligible for payment, a claim must involve disability-based discrimination that is prohibited by Title III of the ADA. How can I find out more about the lawsuit against QuikTrip Corporation and the consent decree? The lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice against QuikTrip Corporation alleged the violation of Title III of the ADA in the design, construction, alteration, and failure to remove barriers to access at QuikTrip gas stations, convenience stores, truck stops, and travel centers located in the Southeastern, Southern, Southwestern, and Midwestern United States. The consent decree requires QuikTrip Corporation to make its facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities, provide fueling and other types of assistance to customers with disabilities at QuikTrip facilities, make its internet website accessible, adopt an ADA-compliant service animal policy, pay a maximum civil penalty of $55,000, and pay $1.5 million into an aggrieved persons compensation fund. The consent decree will be in effect for four years. The consent decree and a fact sheet describing the lawsuit and consent decree are available at http://www.ada.gov/quiktrip_consent.htm
August 5, 2010
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