Looks like Mr. Smith’s might keep its reputation as “the friendliest saloon in town.” According to a document filed last Tuesday in D.C. District Court, Georgetown student Taylor Price (MSB ’10) withdrew his discrimination lawsuit against the restaurant, seemingly because Mr. Smith’s made a donation to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

“In the end, I think both sides were happy,” Price said. Price, who has been paraplegic since a 2004 diving injury,  sued Mr. Smith’s in September for a violation of the American with Disabilities Act. Price’s lawsuit alleged that on January 23, 2009, a manager at Mr. Smith’s had not allowed him to enter the back of the restaurant because the manager said Price’s wheelchair was a fire hazard.

Price said the terms of the settlement with Mr. Smith’s are confidential, but he insists he did not personally receive money. A joint statement from Price and Mr. Smith’s suggests that Mr. Smith’s did lose some money, just not to Price.

The statement trumpets Mr. Smith’s donations to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, perhaps a nod to how Mr. Smith’s managed to resolve the lawsuit. For his part, Price says in the statement that Mr. Smith’s is welcoming towards people with disabilities.

After the jump, the court document and the joint statement

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The lawsuit filed by Georgetown student Taylor Price (MSB ’10) is moving al0ng, with Mr. Smith’s filing a response on November 9th to Price’s allegations. Price sued Mr. Smith’s in September for discriminating against him because he uses a wheelchair.

Mr. Smith’s response (below) denies almost everything Price’s original complaint asserted. Just about the only thing Mr. Smith’s is willing to admit is that they are the friendliest saloon in town:

Defendants admit the allegations contained in Paragraph 19 of the Complaint that  Mr. Smith’s of  Georgetown, a restaurant and piano bar, is a popular location for D.C. residents  and local college students, and particularly in Georgetown, to gather and celebrate events.

Looks like their attempts to settle didn’t work out.
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Last month, Georgetown student and wheelchair user Taylor Price (MSB ’10) filed a lawsuit against M Street bar Mr. Smith’s, claiming discrimination and seeking $75,000 in compensatory damages.  So how’s the case going?

Earlier this month, the parties jointly filed for and were granted an extension of the due date for Mr. Smith’s response to the suit, according to the most recent court documents for the case.  The extension was requested because lawyers for Price and Mr. Smith’s are “currently engagaged in discussions to explore the possibility of settlement.”

According to the court documents (which can be found in full after the jump):

Counsel for Plaintiff and counsel for Mr. Smith’s both agree that these settlement discussions may resolve this action in its entirety.

Thus, it is in the interest of judicial economy and in an effort to conserve party resources that counsel seek an extension of the time within which Mr. Smith’s may file a responsive pleading.

Mr. Smith’s response would have been due October 7th, but since the extension was granted it is now due November 7th.

When asked about the status of the case, Price responded in an e-mail, “There is nothing significant to report at this time, but there may be soon.”

Check out the full court document after the jump!

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