On July 5, 2026, Judge Rebecca Pennell issued a decision in the case Niederquell v. Dosanjh Enterprises addressing whether a 7-Eleven store's footwear policy violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The plaintiff, Mr. Niederquell, claimed an impairment prevented him from wearing shoes and argued that the store's no-shoes policy discriminated against him. However, the court found that the defendants’ footwear policy is a legitimate health and safety measure. The store sells food and beverages packaged in glass and has reported issues with human feces, blood, urine, and vomit on the floors, which supports the need for such a policy.
Judge Pennell noted that remote purchasing options are available to accommodate Mr. Niederquell’s circumstances, providing him full and equal access to the store's goods. The court emphasized that the plaintiff’s inability to wear shoes inside the store does not negate the policy’s justification, as it is intended to prevent "a direct threat to the health or safety of others."
The key legal question was whether the defendants improperly discriminated by imposing eligibility criteria for store entry or by refusing service to Mr. Niederquell. The ruling supports the enforcement of the footwear policy despite the disability claim.
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