Press Releases
United States Department of Justice Supports Plaintiffs Seeking Effective Large Scale Disaster Planning for New Yorkers with Disabilities
New York, NY – May 10, 2013 – The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, on behalf of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), filed a statement of interest today that supports Plaintiffs’ position in the federal class action, BCID v. Bloomberg, Case No. 11-cv-6690 (JMF) . Plaintiffs in that matter have alleged that the City of New York fails to properly address the specific needs of people with disabilities in its large scale disaster planning.
The Government’s statement...
Landmark Agreement Big Step Forward for Students with Print Disabilities
Berkeley, CA – May 7, 2013 – Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and the University of California, Berkeley announced a settlement agreement today that will significantly improve information access for students with print related disabilities. The settlement puts in place a range of new policies and procedures to ensure that print disabled students have access to all of the written material students need to read to succeed in a university setting. The University’s Vice Chancellor for...
Federal Judge Rules New Yorkers with Disabilities can Challenge Taxi of Tomorrow in Lawsuit Seeking Accessible Taxis
New York, NY – April 8, 2013 – Late last week, a federal court in New York City cleared the way for a major class action lawsuit brought by New Yorkers who use wheelchairs to challenge the Taxi of Tomorrow. Judge Daniels of the Southern District of New York District Court allowed Plaintiffs to supplement and amend their complaint to include challenges to the legality of the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s (TLC) selection of the Nissan NV200 van as the exclusive taxi vehicle of New York City...
Trial on NYC’s Defective Large Scale Disaster Plans Will Show Unnecessary Harm to New Yorkers with Disabilities and Increased Chance of Greater Harm in Future Disasters
New York, NY - March 11, 2013 – A Federal Court trial beginning today at 9:00 a.m. EST, 40 Foley Square, New York, Courtroom 1105, will expose the alleged deficiencies in New York City’s large scale disaster planning and demonstrate that such failures needlessly endanger the health and safety of seniors, women, children, and men with disabilities. Federal Judge Jesse M. Furman will hear from witnesses who have suffered as a result of the City’s failures, as well as experts on disability and...
Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF), et al. v. City of Los Angeles
On February 25, 2013, Judge Marshall issued an order preliminary approving the settlement agreement reached with the County of Los Angeles in Communities Actively Living Independent and Free, et al. v. City of Los Angeles et al. The settlement requires the County to revise its emergency plans to incorporate the needs of people with disabilities. If you are a class member and have a comment and objection, you may contact DRA. The deadline for objections and comments is April 6, 2013. The...
2013 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year Award
San Francisco, CA – February 15, 2013 – Sid Wolinsky, Shawna Parks, and Mary-Lee Kimber Smith are recipients of the 2013 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year Award for their remarkable legal achievements, which will require the City and County of L.A. to include the unique needs of people with all types of disabilities in their emergency plans. Their stellar legal work will ensure that nearly 1.3 million people with disabilities will be included in the City and County of L.A.’s emergency...
Sacramento International Airport Discriminates Against Travelers with Disabilities
Berkeley, CA – December 20, 2012 – Sacramento International Airport serves approximately 7.9 million passengers per year yet has failed to make its facilities and services accessible to travelers with disabilities. A class action lawsuit filed today in the United States District Court alleges that the County of Sacramento discriminates against people with mobility disabilities in its operation of the newly constructed Airport Terminal B, a building that violates disability compliance laws and...
Adults with Disabilities Incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail Face Inhumane Conditions and Barriers to Rehabilitative Programs
San Francisco, CA – November 15, 2012 – A lawsuit filed today in Alameda County Superior Court challenges the County of Alameda’s systemic discrimination against men and women with disabilities who experience severe harm while incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail. The lawsuit alleges that the jail’s inhumane conditions and discriminatory treatment of people with disabilities denies these people the basic rights to appropriate facilities for simple human necessities, such as toilets and showers, and...
New York Federal Judge Approves Class Action Status In Emergency Preparedness Lawsuit
New York, New York – November 8, 2012 – Late yesterday, a New York Federal Judge granted class action status to a lawsuit that challenges New York City’s failure to address the needs of people with disabilities in its planning for large scale disasters. The lawsuit, which has been pending since September 26, 2011, alleges that the City does not effectively account for 900,000 New Yorkers with disabilities in its planning for major disasters, which puts all people with disabilities - including...
Federal Court Orders NYC Board Of Elections To Adopt A Plan To Eliminate Voting Barriers For New Yorkers With Disabilities
New York, NY – October 19, 2012 – In a major victory late yesterday for New Yorkers with disabilities who use wheelchairs and scooters or have vision impairments, Federal Judge Deborah Batts ordered the Board of Elections (BOE) to adopt a barrier removal plan proven effective in eliminating barriers to voting at poll-sites for people with disabilities. With the 2012 Presidential Election only weeks away, people with disabilities are gratified with the court’s intervention, which will allow them...