Eastwood Owes No Access Damages

SAN JOSE —  Clint Eastwood does not have to pay damages to a disabled woman who says that his Mission Ranch Inn violated the Americans With Disabilities Act, a jury found Friday.

The jury deliberated for four hours Thursday and Friday before reaching a verdict in U.S. District Court.

Diane zum Brunnen, 51, who has muscular dystrophy, sued Eastwood in 1997, a year after she and her husband, Michael, say they had dinner at Mission Ranch. The couple complained that the wheelchair-accessible bathroom was in another building, more than 200 feet away, across a driveway; the only accessible guest room cost $225 a night, when other rooms were as low as $85; and there was no ramp to the main office.

Eastwood was found liable for two minor violations: not enough signs to the restroom and no ramp access to the hotel office.

Eastwood, 70, said he should have been told about the problems so he could fix them, instead of just being sued. The zum Brunnens testified that, after a previous visit in 1995, they sent Eastwood two letters to complain about the disparity in room rates but got no answer.

Eastwood testified last week that he has tried to make his renovations allow access to the disabled while preserving the ranch’s historic character.

He also pointed out that Monterey County building officials had approved all plans.