A lawsuit has been filed against two Michigan resort companies, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On February 24, 2026, plaintiffs Leland Foster and Mark Fultz submitted a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan against Grand Beach Resort Partners LLC and Sugar Beach Resort Partners LLC. The plaintiffs claim that both resorts have failed to comply with ADA standards, thereby denying them and others with disabilities full access to the resorts’ facilities.
Leland Foster, an Ohio resident diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and Mark Fultz, a Florida resident who uses a wheelchair due to paralysis from a stroke, allege numerous architectural barriers at the resorts. These include non-compliant parking spaces, inaccessible routes within the properties, inadequate restroom facilities, and guest rooms lacking necessary accessibility features. Both plaintiffs have personal ties to Michigan and have frequented these establishments during their visits. For instance, Mr. Fultz visited Sugar Beach Resort Hotel on June 21, 2024, where he encountered several barriers that violated ADA regulations. Similarly, Mr. Foster stayed at Grand Beach Resort Hotel on multiple occasions and faced similar accessibility issues.
The plaintiffs argue that these barriers not only violate ADA regulations but also pose safety risks to individuals with disabilities. They emphasize that despite renovations in recent years—2003 for Grand Beach Resort Hotel and 2006 for Sugar Beach Resort Hotel—the properties remain non-compliant with ADA standards for newly designed or altered facilities. This non-compliance includes issues such as missing accessible routes to public transportation stops and lack of accessible means of entry into pool areas.
In their complaint, Foster and Fultz seek injunctive relief requiring the defendants to bring their properties into full compliance with ADA standards or make all readily achievable alterations. They are also requesting compensatory damages exceeding $25,000 under Michigan’s Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act (M.C.L §37.1301 et seq.), along with attorney fees and litigation costs.
Representing the plaintiffs is attorney Owen B. Dunn Jr., whose law office is based in Toledo, Ohio. The case has been assigned Case No. 1:26-cv-617 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
Source: 126cv00617_Leland_Foster_v_Mark_Fultz_Complaint_Western_District_of_Michigan.pdf
