Centre County woman sues, claims service dog was turned away from central PA Legion
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- Teresa Lehman filed suit alleging ADA violation by American Legion Post 623.
- Lehman claimed Legion officers refused entry to her and her service dog Izabella.
- The lawsuit seeks damages and court-mandated disability sensitivity training.
A Centre County woman filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a veterans organization, alleging she and her service dog were illegally turned away from an outdoor event.
Teresa Lehman, of Spring Township, said in the lawsuit that she has post-traumatic stress disorder and a shih tzu named Izabella to help her cope with emotional distress and anxiety.
The two appeared in April at a family day event at American Legion Post 623 in Clinton County, but Lehman claimed they were told to leave by two high-ranking Legionnaires.
After telling them Izabella is a service dog and offering to show documentation, one was alleged to have said “get her out of here” while the other responded he “couldn’t care less and did not want to see the documentation.”
The Legion, 68 Wynn Ave., declined comment Friday. No attorney for the organization was listed and a Legionnaire declined to identify who represents them.
The lawsuit alleged a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and negligence. She’s seeking unspecified monetary damages, as well as court-ordered disability sensitivity training.
Lehman was also identified in the lawsuit as a member of the women’s auxiliary of American Legion Post 867 in Pleasant Gap.
A Vietnam veteran in April was awarded $25,000 in a similar lawsuit against a now-closed inflatable play center inside the Nittany Mall. K n B’s Inflatables was ordered to pay, in part, because it had not participated in the lawsuit for more than 2 1/2 years.