September 14, 2026
For Immediate Release
Lansing, MI – This week, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) filed a discrimination charge against a Waterford law firm for failing to accommodate its client’s disability. An MDCR investigation uncovered the following occurrences.
The Claimant, who has a disability, began a client relationship with Booth Patterson, PC in late 2022. The Claimant asked for a reasonable accommodation during several 2023 meetings with the firm, but the firm never honored the request. Booth Patterson, PC furthermore refused to pay for the accommodation the Claimant eventually secured for the meetings on their own.
The Claimant filed a complaint with MDCR in November 2023. MDCR, in accordance with its own rules and regulations, informed Booth Patterson, PC of the allegations and performed an impartial investigation. MDCR found sufficient grounds to formally charge the firm with Failure to Accommodate in a Place of Public Accommodation.
“Refusing to make appropriate accommodations prevents people with disabilities from properly receiving the services they need. This is not just wrong, but illegal,” said MDCR Executive Director John E. Johnson, Jr. “We all have a duty to enforce these standards and make our places of business available to everyone.”
Within the discrimination charge, MDCR is requesting that the Commission require Booth Patterson, PC to undergo disability training and reimburse the client for any time they spent without the necessary accommodation. MDCR is also requesting that the Commission send certification of the discriminatory incident to the State Bar of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), which could result in the censure or revocation of Booth Patterson, PC’s professional licenses.
As is the case with all discrimination charges, the charge against Booth Patterson, PC will be presented at a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), who will hear evidence from both the firm and MDCR. If the ALJ determines that discrimination occurred and that remedies are necessary, the matter is brought to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission for a final ruling.
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The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is charged with investigating and resolving discrimination complaints and works to prevent discrimination through educational programs that promote voluntary compliance with civil rights laws. For more information on the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, visit www.michigan.gov/mdcr.
