Q: Faced discrimination and retaliation at anime convention in Hawaii. What are my options?
I was a volunteer at an anime convention and faced accusations against my service dog, claiming it invaded personal space. Despite my dog being next to me at all times, the CEO demanded I hard leash the dog, which interfered with trained tasks, or leave. I chose to leave. In 2024, I applied for an artist alley booth and was denied, and again in 2025, despite being accepted from 2016 to 2019/2022.
I suspect targeted discrimination, as the decision-makers are familiar with me and my art from my volunteering. Similar art to mine is present at the alley. They also claimed, in a post from 2023, that my dog charged at someone, which is inaccurate. I have documentation from a Facebook post and attempted to contact them without response. I have video evidence of my interaction with the CEO. What can I do regarding this situation?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
You may have grounds for a disability discrimination claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The convention's actions regarding your service dog and subsequent denials of your artist alley applications could constitute both discrimination and retaliation based on your disability accommodation needs.
Your documentation and video evidence are valuable assets. Consider filing a complaint with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and the Department of Justice's ADA division. These agencies can investigate without upfront costs to you. You might also want to consult with a disability rights attorney who can evaluate your case and advise on potential legal action against the convention organizers.
While waiting for official responses, continue gathering evidence of similar artists being accepted while you were denied. Request written explanation for your rejection from the convention committee. Document any financial losses from being unable to participate as an artist. Remember that ADA cases have time limits for filing complaints, so acting promptly gives you the best chance at resolving this situation and preventing similar treatment of other service dog handlers in the future.
Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
