Hunton & Williams LLP Secures Victory for Pier 1 Imports® in Ninth Circuit Ruling on ADA Case

San Francisco — July 9, 2009 — Hunton & Williams LLP is pleased to announce the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled in favor of its client, retailer Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (NYSE:PIR), in a case involving alleged barriers to access under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

"This case is good news for retailers and other businesses who have far too often been targeted by opportunistic and vexatious litigants," said lead appellate lawyer Laura Franze. "ADA compliance is complex and challenging for businesses and employers in the United States, most of who, like Pier 1 Imports®, make every effort to ensure access to individuals with disabilities. The court’s ruling reins in 'drive-by' litigants who have no real stake in the issues presented."

In Byron Chapman v. Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc., dba Pier 1 Imports #1132, the Ninth Circuit reversed the trial court finding that the plaintiff lacked standing to pursue claims for alleged barriers that he had not personally encountered and where he was not deterred from entering the store. The court distinguished its 2008 decision in the case of Doran v. 7-Eleven.

Hunton & Williams' ADA public accommodations practice group, part of the firm’s Labor and Employment practice, is known for providing compliance, strategy and ADA public accommodations litigation services for major employers nationwide.

Franze is national co-chair of the firm's Labor and Employment practice and was recently named to the Top 100 of the Nation's Most Powerful Employment Attorneys by Human Resource Executive magazine. Other members of the Hunton & Williams team representing Pier 1 included partners Roland Juarez and Brett Burns.

About Hunton & Williams LLP

Hunton & Williams LLP provides legal services to corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals, as well as to a broad array of other entities. Since our establishment more than a century ago, Hunton & Williams has grown to more than 1,000 attorneys serving clients in 100 countries from 19 offices around the world. While our practice has a strong industry focus on energy, financial services and life sciences, the depth and breadth of our experience extends to more than 100 separate practice areas, including bankruptcy and creditors rights, commercial litigation, corporate transactions and securities law, intellectual property, international and government relations, regulatory law, products liability, and privacy and information management.