A California resident with disabilities has filed a lawsuit against a retail store, alleging violations of accessibility laws. The complaint was filed by Andy Martin in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, on September 10, 2025, targeting Hat World, Inc., and unnamed defendants Does 1-20. The plaintiff claims that the store failed to provide adequate access for individuals with disabilities, particularly concerning the height of mirrors within the establishment.
The case revolves around an incident on March 26, 2025, when Andy Martin visited a Hat World retail location at 350 W. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks, California. Martin, who is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair for mobility, encountered difficulties due to mirrors being mounted too high for him to use comfortably. This situation prevented him from fully accessing the public accommodation as intended and caused him significant discomfort and embarrassment. Martin asserts that this architectural barrier denied him equal access to the store’s facilities and services compared to ambulatory patrons.
Martin’s complaint accuses Hat World and its associates of failing to maintain accessible conditions required by law. He argues that these barriers are easily removable without significant difficulty or expense and should have been addressed under existing legal frameworks like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act. According to Martin’s attorney Dayton Magallanes from the Law Offices of Dayton Magallanes, “The violations listed above are easily removable without much difficulty or expense,” emphasizing that alternative accommodations could be made if complete removal isn’t feasible.
The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief compelling Hat World to comply with accessibility laws and remedy all barriers related to his disability. Additionally, he requests damages under the Unruh Civil Rights Act which mandates actual damages plus a statutory minimum of $4,000 per violation. Martin also seeks reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation expenses as part of his relief request.
Representing Andy Martin is attorney Dayton Magallanes from his eponymous law firm. The case has been assigned Case No. 2025 CUCROSO4 in the Superior Court of California located in Ventura County.
Source: 2025CUCR050479_Andy_Martin_v_Hat_World_Complaint_County_of_Ventura_California.pdf
