Cases
September 14, 2012
In 2010, DRA; Jose Allen, partner at Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom LLP; and AARP Foundation Litigation (AFL) achieved a landmark $1.1 billion dollar settlement with Caltrans, the largest architectural access settlement to date for people with disabilities. Under the settlement, Caltrans agreed to improve the surface conditions of thousands of miles of sidewalks and … Continue reading » “Californians for Disability Rights, Inc. (CDR), et al. v. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)”
September 14, 2012
Leveraging our success in ALDA v. Cinemark, we achieved a similar result with AMC Theaters on behalf of the Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA). In 2011, on the heels of our settlement with Cinemark, AMC agreed to offer closed captioning for 127 screens in California by mid-2012, and projects that number to grow to … Continue reading » “AMC Theaters Structured Negotiations”
September 14, 2012
In January 2013, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Despite this disappointment, the landmark case raised national awareness of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ serious deficiencies and delays in providing veterans with the mental health care treatment and benefit determination claims they deserve and need. The case furthered awareness of veterans’ mental health … Continue reading » “Veterans for Common Sense (VCS), et al. v. Shinseki, et al.”
September 7, 2012
As technology plays a central role in many facets of our lives from communication to purchasing goods, enrolling in classes and seeking employment, it is important now more than ever to bridge the digital divide between technology and people with disabilities. In 2006, DRA represented the National Federation of the Blind and three blind plaintiffs … Continue reading » “National Federation of the Blind (NFB), et al. v. Target Corporation”
September 7, 2012
In 2009, DRA reached a landmark settlement with two major travel websites – Hotels.com and Expedia.com. Under the settlement, the major online travel service companies agreed to improve reservation services for travelers with disabilities. Both companies added new features to their travel websites to improve the ability for people with disabilities to search and reserve … Continue reading » “Smith, et al. v. Hotels.com”
September 6, 2012
The City and County of Los Angeles have experienced multiple natural disasters ranging from earthquakes, fires, and landslides; the County of L.A. has declared a state of emergency over twenty-four times since 1980. L.A.’s vulnerability to disasters highlighted the critical need to ensure that the City and County of L.A. include the safety of people … Continue reading » “Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF), et al. v. City of Los Angeles”
September 6, 2012
DRA reached a settlement through structured negotiations with Amazon.com on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind. Under the settlement, Amazon.com agreed to make its website, as well as several affiliated websites, fully accessible to people with disabilities who use assistive technology to read and navigate internet websites. This was a monumental achievement for … Continue reading » “Amazon.com Structured Negotiations”
August 28, 2012
DRA prevailed after many years of hard-fought litigation against United of Omaha Life Insurance Company. This case has positively altered the landscape of insurance coverage for people with disabilities in California. A U.S. District Court judge found that United discriminated against Howard Chabner, a man with muscular dystrophy, by charging him a life insurance premium … Continue reading » “Chabner v. United of Omaha”
August 28, 2012
In December 2006, DRA filed a class action lawsuit against Sutter in California state court on behalf of individuals with mobility and sensory disabilities alleging that Sutter maintained barriers to access in three areas: (1) architectural barriers at Sutter facilities; (2) policies, practices, and procedures that did not accommodate individuals with physical disabilities at Sutter … Continue reading » “Thompson v. Sutter Health”
August 28, 2012
DRA’s client – an individual who used a wheelchair – was denied service at a Sterling VisionCare Center because he was unable to walk from his wheelchair to the examination chair. To avoid litigation, Sterling VisionCare committed to ensure that accessible examination chairs are made available to patrons with disabilities at all of its facilities, … Continue reading » “Sterling VisionCare”
