NewsJuly 17, 2008
Lawsuit claims Springfield woman's monkey is service animal
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- A southwest Missouri woman has sued Wal-Mart, local health officials and Cox Health Systems, claiming they discriminated against her and her monkey named Richard. Debby Rose of Springfield said in the lawsuit that the 10-year-old bonnet macaque helps curb a social anxiety disorder that can cause her to have panic attacks in public...SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- A southwest Missouri woman has sued Wal-Mart, local health officials and Cox Health Systems, claiming they discriminated against her and her monkey named Richard.
Debby Rose of Springfield said in the lawsuit that the 10-year-old bonnet macaque helps curb a social anxiety disorder that can cause her to have panic attacks in public.
The suit contends the Springfield-Greene County Health Department lacked the authority to decide that Richard is not a service animal under the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Health officials in 2006 sent letters to restaurants and grocery stores, advising them not to let Rose in with the monkey.
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Rose also alleges she was denied access to Cox Health Systems facilities.
The three entities declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com
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