'No probable cause' in BoroughVENT case

I have experienced the same type of attemps to intimidation on a forum from Springfield, MA. Some of the posted messages say to throw me off the property and others say things that I will not repeat. I have contacted the Newspaper (Springfield Republican) numerous times but they don't care. Freedom of speech is one thing, intimidation and harrassment is another!

#1 Freedom of Speech
#2 Feel intimidated--then don't give them your business
#3 "Beware shop owners, the Bitch on Wheels ... who sues people to have handicap ramps, has hit three stores today ... This woman's extortion ends NOW!" How does Phillips know they are speaking of her??
Maybe they were referring to Jane Doe.
#4 Phillips--you may feel your lobbying to make things better but your really not, your putting a VERY sour taste in many peoples mouths and in turn are making things worse.
Ever think of handling things a little different than filing MANY...MANY...MANY.... different lawsuits??

Duh...they (the public) & small town officials continue to turn thier back on these issues, often crying "theres no money". An advocate can pamper & coddle or tell them what they want to hear but they still fail to do the right thing.

As for not giving them your business-Every individual has a Civil Right to frequent any place of public accommidation in their community. When places of public accommidation fail to provide the appropriate Inclusive Access they have violated someones Civil Rights. They have also turned away another segment of the population that has $$$ to spend at their business.

As for the sour taste thing-The taste is sour because its a bitter pill to swallow when they get caught and are forced to provide the Inclusive Access by court order or state stipulated order! You can make all the excuses you want but bottom line is society has turned its back towards this issue and thank God for George Bush Sr signing the ADA into law back in the early 90s!

duh wrote:

#1 Freedom of Speech
#2 Feel intimidated--then don't give them your business
#3 "Beware shop owners, the **** on Wheels ... who sues people to have handicap ramps, has hit three stores today ... This woman's extortion ends NOW!" How does Phillips know they are speaking of her??
Maybe they were referring to Jane Doe.
#4 Phillips--you may feel your lobbying to make things better but your really not, your putting a VERY sour taste in many peoples mouths and in turn are making things worse.
Ever think of handling things a little different than filing MANY...MANY...MANY.... different lawsuits??

This person is a tool. Get a life for God sake. Leave the business owners alone. Also if you have a problem with people talking about you, say something to them, why take it to the court, what are you sue happy?

reggabtP wrote:

Duh...they (the public) & small town officials continue to turn thier back on these issues, often crying "theres no money". An advocate can pamper & coddle or tell them what they want to hear but they still fail to do the right thing.
As for not giving them your business-Every individual has a Civil Right to frequent any place of public accommidation in their community. When places of public accommidation fail to provide the appropriate Inclusive Access they have violated someones Civil Rights. They have also turned away another segment of the population that has $$$ to spend at their business.
As for the sour taste thing-The taste is sour because its a bitter pill to swallow when they get caught and are forced to provide the Inclusive Access by court order or state stipulated order! You can make all the excuses you want but bottom line is society has turned its back towards this issue and thank God for George Bush Sr signing the ADA into law back in the early 90s!
<quoted text>

Did you ever stop and think about the expense burden that these lawsuits put on the small business. That who she goes after mostly. Also the places that she has targeted in Gettysburg are historic buildings that were there at the time of the battle.

reggabtP wrote:

I have experienced the same type of attemps to intimidation on a forum from Springfield, MA. Some of the posted messages say to throw me off the property and others say things that I will not repeat. I have contacted the Newspaper (Springfield Republican) numerous times but they don't care. Freedom of speech is one thing, intimidation and harrassment is another!

Did you ever think maybe it's just you and the way you treat others?

reggabtP wrote:

Duh...they (the public) & small town officials continue to turn thier back on these issues, often crying "theres no money". An advocate can pamper & coddle or tell them what they want to hear but they still fail to do the right thing.
As for not giving them your business-Every individual has a Civil Right to frequent any place of public accommidation in their community. When places of public accommidation fail to provide the appropriate Inclusive Access they have violated someones Civil Rights. They have also turned away another segment of the population that has $$$ to spend at their business.
As for the sour taste thing-The taste is sour because its a bitter pill to swallow when they get caught and are forced to provide the Inclusive Access by court order or state stipulated order! You can make all the excuses you want but bottom line is society has turned its back towards this issue and thank God for George Bush Sr signing the ADA into law back in the early 90s!
<quoted text>

I can understand where you are coming from, but you would have to live in this area, see this woman in action...to understand. People around here are not against helping a person with a disability. From what I understand, most of the businesses that she's trying to take on are covered under a separate law because they are historical buildings. So her complaints get no where except for expensive litigation and she just keeps doing it...

Good news - she didn't win
Bad news - she gets even more attention, which is her ultimate aim

I have to be honest. This area is "known" for it's rude business practices. It amazes me that most businesses are able to survive. They just don't seem to care. Not even if their customers may have a disability and can not shop there. They just don't care. Unless of course you are "a local."

EEEE wrote:

<quoted text>
I can understand where you are coming from, but you would have to live in this area, see this woman in action...to understand. People around here are not against helping a person with a disability. From what I understand, most of the businesses that she's trying to take on are covered under a separate law because they are historical buildings. So her complaints get no where except for expensive litigation and she just keeps doing it...

I'm not saying anything at all...I don't want sued!!!

Voice of Reason wrote:

I'm not saying anything at all...I don't want sued!!!

That's too funny!
Could she also be the lady that sued McDonalds for hot coffee? Or
The lady that thought a Winnebago could drive itself?
Either way, is she shopping for merchandise, or shopping for places that don't have a wheelchair ramp? Don't get your panties in a bunch, they were only questions!

melinda wrote:

I have to be honest. This area is "known" for it's rude business practices. It amazes me that most businesses are able to survive. They just don't seem to care. Not even if their customers may have a disability and can not shop there. They just don't care. Unless of course you are "a local."
<quoted text>

I beg to differ! I have never in 30 years been treated the least bit rudely by any merchant in the area. Perhaps it would be useful to examine what there could be about you that promotes your assessment of how you are treated.

Maybe it is just me, but if someone doesn't want me to patronize their store, I won't and I don't feel the need to force them to. I would much rather go to a place where I am wanted.

I was going to type a reply to melinda but the last 3 posters did it so well for me...I have no need!

As a small business owner, we want any customer, with or without a disability. We had a good customer
that used a wheelchair. When she came to town, her driver would come in and announce her arrival and me and one of the other clerks would go out to her car
and wheel her in and up over a couple of steps to get into my store, she was always greatful and the nicest woman I have ever met. She talked to all of us, bought some things and then we helped her back into her car again. On that same day she went to some other stores where she received the same treatment. We all loved to see her come into town.
Not just because she spent money in our stores but
we all loved her and were always glad to see her.
Times have become very difficult for small business owners during this recession and to comply right now for Ms. Phillips could cause us to go bankrupt. We are not about not complying, we want to but financially we cannot.
Ms. Phillips maybe people would respect and maybe even love you if you respected us. Hope you take the good out of this and apply it in your own life.

Blah Blah Blah wrote:

As a small business owner, we want any customer, with or without a disability. We had a good customer
that used a wheelchair. When she came to town, her driver would come in and announce her arrival and me and one of the other clerks would go out to her car
and wheel her in and up over a couple of steps to get into my store, she was always greatful and the nicest woman I have ever met. She talked to all of us, bought some things and then we helped her back into her car again. On that same day she went to some other stores where she received the same treatment. We all loved to see her come into town.
Not just because she spent money in our stores but
we all loved her and were always glad to see her.
Times have become very difficult for small business owners during this recession and to comply right now for Ms. Phillips could cause us to go bankrupt. We are not about not complying, we want to but financially we cannot.
Ms. Phillips maybe people would respect and maybe even love you if you respected us. Hope you take the good out of this and apply it in your own life.

Very well stated. Applause.

Blah Blah Blah wrote:

As a small business owner, we want any customer, with or without a disability. We had a good customer
that used a wheelchair. When she came to town, her driver would come in and announce her arrival and me and one of the other clerks would go out to her car
and wheel her in and up over a couple of steps to get into my store, she was always greatful and the nicest woman I have ever met. She talked to all of us, bought some things and then we helped her back into her car again. On that same day she went to some other stores where she received the same treatment. We all loved to see her come into town.
Not just because she spent money in our stores but
we all loved her and were always glad to see her.
Times have become very difficult for small business owners during this recession and to comply right now for Ms. Phillips could cause us to go bankrupt. We are not about not complying, we want to but financially we cannot.
Ms. Phillips maybe people would respect and maybe even love you if you respected us. Hope you take the good out of this and apply it in your own life.

Helping people with disabilities is to be expected.
On the other hand, this whole access thing seems to have gotten out of hand. Some parking lots have way more handicap parking spaces than will ever be used. The expense to which shop owners and towns are going to will put someone out of business. Let's be realistic about making everything handicap accessable!!!

reggabtP wrote:

Duh...they (the public) & small town officials continue to turn thier back on these issues, often crying "theres no money". An advocate can pamper & coddle or tell them what they want to hear but they still fail to do the right thing.
As for not giving them your business-Every individual has a Civil Right to frequent any place of public accommidation in their community. When places of public accommidation fail to provide the appropriate Inclusive Access they have violated someones Civil Rights. They have also turned away another segment of the population that has $$$ to spend at their business.
As for the sour taste thing-The taste is sour because its a bitter pill to swallow when they get caught and are forced to provide the Inclusive Access by court order or state stipulated order! You can make all the excuses you want but bottom line is society has turned its back towards this issue and thank God for George Bush Sr signing the ADA into law back in the early 90s!
<quoted text>

Putting small businesses out of business is not going to cure you. Quit trying to bring everyone else down. If you want to be miserable, have at it, but don't try to make everyone else miserable.

melinda wrote:

I have to be honest. This area is "known" for it's rude business practices. It amazes me that most businesses are able to survive. They just don't seem to care. Not even if their customers may have a disability and can not shop there. They just don't care. Unless of course you are "a local."
<quoted text>

36 years in Gettysburg as a small business owner. Have received literally hundreds of compliments about the kind and friendly treatment we provide to ALL customrs, not just "locals". In 36 years the only people who have been treated poorly are the ones who demand that kind of treatment. Have assisted old people, young people, disabled people, injured people, people toting small children in any way possible while visiting my store. If you have been treated rudely it's because of your attitude. Take a good look in the mirror!

Blah Blah Blah wrote:

As a small business owner, we want any customer, with or without a disability. We had a good customer
that used a wheelchair. When she came to town, her driver would come in and announce her arrival and me and one of the other clerks would go out to her car
and wheel her in and up over a couple of steps to get into my store, she was always greatful and the nicest woman I have ever met. She talked to all of us, bought some things and then we helped her back into her car again. On that same day she went to some other stores where she received the same treatment. We all loved to see her come into town.
Not just because she spent money in our stores but
we all loved her and were always glad to see her.
Times have become very difficult for small business owners during this recession and to comply right now for Ms. Phillips could cause us to go bankrupt. We are not about not complying, we want to but financially we cannot.
Ms. Phillips maybe people would respect and maybe even love you if you respected us. Hope you take the good out of this and apply it in your own life.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you!!