Silguero v. CSL Plasma, Inc.

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bars disability discrimination by any covered “place of public accommodation.” The Third and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals have held that a plasma donation center is such a “place of public accommodation” and, therefore, that discrimination by a plasma center on the basis of disability violates Title III of the ADA. In this case, however, the Fifth Circuit held that a plasma donation center is not a “place of public accommodation” and, therefore, that discrimination by a plasma center on the basis of disability does not violate Title III.

Public Citizen served as co-counsel in the Supreme Court on behalf of plaintiffs asking the Court to grant review of the Fifth Circuit’s decision and to decide whether a plasma donation center is a “place of public accommodation” subject to the requirements of Title III. The Court, however, denied the petition.