A Lehigh Valley woman sued the Walt Disney Co. after her 7-year-old autistic son was barred from entering the Disney Store in the Lehigh Valley Mall because he wasn’t wearing a face mask.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Allen Township resident Shea Emanuel says masks bother her son’s skin so she won’t force him to wear one. His skin is highly sensitive to touch, especially on his face, the suit says.
The suit says she was at the store in Whitehall on Aug. 20 to celebrate her older son’s birthday. The lawsuit says the boy and his brother were humiliated by being denied entry in front of about a dozen people waiting in line to enter.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine issued an order requiring people to wear face coverings to stop the spread of COVID-19. The order allows exemptions, however, for individuals with mental health conditions or disabilities. No one must show proof or documentation to take advantage of the exemptions, Levine’s order says.
A Disney spokesman emailed the following statement to lehighvalleylive.com:
“Disney stores operate in accordance with the ADA, and we will respond to the plaintiff’s allegations in court at the appropriate time. We are always focused on the health and safety of our guests and employees, which is why we implemented a number of enhanced measures, including a face covering requirement, at our stores during this unprecedented time.”
The lawsuit was filed in federal court Tuesday by Allentown attorney William P. Mansour. It seeks an order stopping the Walt Disney Co. “from enforcing its face covering policy or practice at the Whitehall Disney Store against individuals who cannot wear face coverings because of an ADA-covered disability.”
It seeks costs, attorney fees and “any other relief deemed proper and just.”
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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If there’s anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.