Public Entities

The History of DRA’s Lawsuits Against the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority

July 19, 2019

The New York City subway system, the lifeblood of the city, is the most convenient way for nearly all New Yorkers to get around town. However, the MTA wholly excludes hundreds of thousands of NYC residents and visitors who have a mobility disability that limits their use of stairs from the 75% of stations that … Continue reading “The History of DRA’s Lawsuits Against the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority”

De La Rosa v. MTA (Federal case)

May 15, 2019

In May 2019, DRA filed a civil rights class action lawsuit in New York against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), challenging its prevalent, discriminatory practice of renovating New York City subway stations without installing elevators or other stair-free routes in blatant violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This illegal conduct harmed hundreds of … Continue reading “De La Rosa v. MTA (Federal case)”

Suffolk Independent Living Organization v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority

April 23, 2019

On July 10, 2020, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), Kasowitz Benson Torres, and the Law Offices of James E. Bahamonde reached an agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to resolve a lawsuit alleging three LIRR stations violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to install elevators when … Continue reading “Suffolk Independent Living Organization v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority”

Hinkle v. Baass

October 22, 2018

In October 2018, DRA and a coalition of blind advocates filed a class action lawsuit in Federal Court against the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and its county agents for failing to provide Medi-Cal notices in accessible formats, such as Braille. The plaintiffs are the California Council of the Blind and three individuals; … Continue reading “Hinkle v. Baass”

T.G. v. Kern County

February 22, 2018

Read the Class Notice in English or Spanish. On February 22, 2018, Disability Rights Advocates, in partnership with Disability Rights California (“DRC”), released a 50-page report on our 6-month investigation of the treatment of youth with disabilities at the Kern County Juvenile Hall and other Kern County juvenile detention facilities. Our investigation uncovered abuse and … Continue reading “T.G. v. Kern County”

Center for Independence of the Disabled New York (CIDNY) v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) (S.D.N.Y.)

April 25, 2017

Attention: You might be a member of the settlement class if you use or seek to use the New York City subway system and you have a disability that requires you to use an elevator to do so. There is a proposed settlement agreement in this case. Read the English Class Notice or Spanish Class … Continue reading “Center for Independence of the Disabled New York (CIDNY) v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) (S.D.N.Y.)”

Center for Independence of the Disabled New York (CIDNY) v. MTA (State case)

April 25, 2017

This case challenges the MTA’s failure to install elevators at all New York City’s subway stations. DRA has a second, related case challenging the MTA’s failure to maintain the few elevators that currently exist. In April 2017, DRA filed a class action lawsuit against the New York City Transit Authority (“NYCTA”), Metropolitan Transit Authority (“MTA”), … Continue reading “Center for Independence of the Disabled New York (CIDNY) v. MTA (State case)”

Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID), et al., v. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Four Freedoms Park Conservancy

March 21, 2017

On March 16, 2017, DRA filed a class action lawsuit against the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Four Freedoms Park Conservancy for their failure to make the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (“FDR”) Memorial accessible for persons with mobility disabilities. The obstacles include a flight of stairs at the very … Continue reading “Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID), et al., v. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Four Freedoms Park Conservancy”

Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York (DIA) v. The City of New York

October 27, 2016

Disability Rights Advocates filed a class action lawsuit against the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the City of New York in October 2016 on behalf of four individual plaintiffs who were unable to get into NYPD precinct stations to make crime reports, attend community safety meetings, or otherwise access the services provided at … Continue reading “Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York (DIA) v. The City of New York”