An Air Force veteran is suing a fertility clinic for allegedly refusing to let him enter their clinic with a service dog he says is needed because of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), claiming they violated his civil rights.
According to the lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court, Daryl Sager went to Pacific Fertility Center on Sept. 11, 2023, with his wife and service dog.
"Upon arriving at Pacific Fertility Center, Defendant’s employees told Plaintiff that he would not be able to accompany his wife during her appointment solely because of the presence of Plaintiff’s service dog," the suit says." Plaintiff attempted to educate Defendant’s employees about his rights under both the Americans with Disabilities Act and California law, but the employees would not relent. In fact, Defendant’s employees told Plaintiff that he would be able to join his wife during her appointment only if he did not bring his service dog with him."
According to the lawsuit, the ADA states that “no individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation.”
Sager seeks at least $36,000 in damages, plus legal fees.
He is represented by attorney Rick Morin, of Newport Beach.
Sager v. Prelude Fertility, Inc. dba Pacific Fertility Center, San Francisco Superior Court, CGC-23-609572