Homeless shelter, blind man reach settlement in lawsuit over seeing-eye dog

A faith-based, Lawrence County homeless shelter for men reached an agreement with a blind man who sued in federal court after the shelter turned him away because of his seeing-eye dog, according to court records.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon on Tuesday ordered Kenneth DeFiore's civil rights lawsuit suspended, based on a mediator's report that DeFiore and City Rescue Mission of New Castle reached a settlement.

The judge's order doesn't provide specifics of the agreement. Lawyers for both sides couldn't be reached for comment.

DeFiore sued the mission in November 2012. The Justice Department in June filed a separate lawsuit claiming the shelter's actions violated federal housing and disability regulations. That case is still pending, according to court records.

The U.S. Attorney's Office declined comment.