The jury did the right thing

Clint Eastwood

Mr Eastwood, 70, vigorously denied the charges that his hotel discriminated against people with disabilities, claiming the lawsuit was a frivolous case.

He said the allegations were based on fabricated evidence, and that too many lies were told in court.

"I think the jury did the right thing," he said.

"Naturally the losing side will feel otherwise. That's human nature."

'Fistful of dollars'

According to his lawyer the case was about one thing - Mrs zum Brunnen and those who represented her, wanted a "fistful of dollars".

Eastwood was congratulated by his wife Dina Ruiz Eastwood

The actor was found liable for two minor offences, no ramp access to the hotel's office and not enough signs to a bathroom with wheelchair access.

Mr Eastwood, actor and director of films such as Unforgiven and the recent hit, Space Cowboys, took over the hotel, in Carmel, California during his term as mayor of the town from 1986 to 1988.

He stepped in to prevent local developers from bulldozing the historic building and restored it to the original 1850s farmhouse style.

Rights violated

Mrs zum Brunnen claimed her rights were violated because the only wheelchair-accessible rooms in the inn cost $225 (�160) a night.

Other rooms in the "bunkhouse" were as cheap as $85 (�60) per night but were not accessible to wheelchair users.

Furthermore, toilets accessible to guests using the restaurant were more than 200 feet (60 metres) away, through a car park, and the main office could only be reached by stairs.

Mrs zum Brunnen's lawyer, John Burris, suggested that Eastwood, got favourable treatment during his term as mayor.

Eastwood's lawyer Chuck Keller acknowledged that facilities for the disabled at the 31-room hotel were inadequate in 1996.

But he complained that Eastwood had not been given time to correct the problems before being sued.

In May, Eastwood testified before Congress in support of a bill requiring that property owners be notified of alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act - before they are sued.

Mrs zum Brunnen was not in court for the verdict. Her lawyer said he was considering whether to appeal.