Discrimination Ruling Anti-Climactic
Claims Against Samarkand Go Unfiled
Despite a federal court ruling that they discriminated against people with disabilities, no claims for compensation have yet been filed against Samarkand of Santa Barbara or its parent company, Covenant Retirement Communities, a Covenant spokesperson said. She added that the case has been in court since 1998 and that the appropriate policy changes were made years ago. The court found that the company, which owns more than a dozen enclaves across the nation, had barred people using walkers, crutches, wheelchairs or other mobility devices from some common areas, and in some cases denied housing to people with power chairs or required that they buy extra insurance. Discrimination victims or their spouses are eligible for compensation.
