Case: Cinemark Audio Description Settlement

NA | No Court

Filed Date: 2012

Closed Date: 2012

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In this out-of-court settlement, in September 2012, blind moviegoers and the California Council for the Blind reached an agreement with Cinemark, a large movie theater chain, after a complaint about the inaccessibility of Cinemark's movies. Cinemark agreed to install audio description, which provides vocal description of key visual aspects of a movie, such as scenery, facial expressions, costumes, action settings, and scene changes, during pauses in dialogue. The description is provided by movie studios, and Cinemark will make it available to members of the audience who choose to receive it via personal headsets and a receiver provided at the theater.

Summary Authors

Clearinghouse (10/9/2012)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Dardarian, Linda M. (California)

Feingold, Lainey [Elaine] (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Burns, M. Brett (California)

Cavalier, Michael (Texas)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Franze, Laura M. (Texas)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Settlement Agreement

Cinemark Audio Description Settlement Agreement

Sept. 27, 2012

Sept. 27, 2012

Settlement Agreement

Press Release

Cinemark Audio Description Settlement Agreement

Sept. 27, 2012

Sept. 27, 2012

Press Release

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 3:28 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

Key Dates

Filing Date: 2012

Closing Date: 2012

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Blind moviegoers and the California Council of the Blind.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Law Office of Lainey Feingold

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Cinemark USA, Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

Movie Theater or Other Entertainment facility

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

State law

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Order Duration: 2012 - 2012

Issues

General:

Access to public accommodations - privately owned

Disability and Disability Rights:

Visual impairment

Type of Facility:

Non-government for-profit