Megan Mycock claims she went into the Hamilton bar last year but was initially turned away because workers thought she was drunk, not blind
HAMILTON - A partially blind woman claims she was discriminated against when she went into a Hamilton bar last year and servers - mistaking her disability for intoxication - refused to sell her a drink, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
The woman, Megan Mycock, filed the suit last week over an incident in August of 2015, when she claims she was initially turned away while trying to buy a drink at the Ivy Tavern and Liquor Store on South Broad Street.
"(Mycock) is a person with a physical disability in the form total sightlessness in her left eye and the profound loss of sight in her right eye," the lawsuit said, adding that she needs to be led around by a companion.
That was the case last year when Mycock, along with a companion, went into the Ivy Tavern for a drink. Mycock was holding onto her companion's arm when a worker at the bar, Michael Russo, said, "look at this woman, she can't even walk," and ordered other employees not to serve her, according to the suit.
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Mycock's companion privately explained her disability to Russo, who at first didn't listen, according to the suit. As the two were talking, another worker, Eileen Russo, "accuse(d) the plaintiff of falsely claiming to be blind," and encouraged others to heckle Mycock, the suit said.
The workers were eventually convinced that Mycock was disabled and offered her a free drink, but Mycock decided instead to leave the bar, "humiliated" by what had happened, the suit said.
A representative for the tavern declined to comment on the allegations Tuesday. Mycock's attorney did not immediately respond to a call for comment.
The lawsuit names the tavern and both Michael and Eileen Russo as defendants.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman