Curran v. City of Oakland

Scroll to case documents Date Filed: 05/15/2023 Status:

In May 2023, DRA filed a federal class action lawsuit against the City of Oakland on behalf of two people with mobility disabilities for denying them full and equal access to the City’s pedestrian rights of way, a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and California law.

These violations severely impact the ability to access sidewalks, crosswalks, and curb ramps for Plaintiffs Michael Curran, Nicole Brown-Booker, and all other persons with mobility disabilities, making it difficult or impossible to fully and equally participate in civic life in Oakland. Not being able to safely cross their street or travel the block where they live is a frequent reality for Plaintiffs. Read the complaint.

Oakland’s own data demonstrates that there are systemic barriers to the accessibility of the City’s pedestrian rights of way. In 2007, the City conducted a sidewalk survey and documented over 110,000 locations with widespread sidewalk barriers, and a 2009 citywide inventory concluded that over 18,000 curb ramps were required in various locations throughout the City.

Among other things, the lawsuit seeks an order to ensure that Oakland’s sidewalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian rights of way comply with laws and standards that have been in place for decades.

Plaintiffs are represented by:

  • Disability Rights Advocates
  • Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho
  • Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise
  • Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP

In September 2025, the parties reached a proposed agreement. If you are a person with a mobility disability, and if you have used, tried to use, or think you will use any of the City of Oakland’s sidewalks, crosswalks, or curb ramps, and have had or will have difficulty using them because they were too steep, narrow, sloped, damaged, in need of repair, or otherwise inaccessible to you because of your mobility disability you may be a member of the proposed settlement class in this lawsuit. See this class notice for more information.

Disability: Case Area: