In March of 2001, DRA and Co-counsel John Burris reached a landmark settlement with Kaiser Permanente, to improve access to health care for people with disabilities. The settlement plan has been used as a model for the health care industry on how to deliver medical care for men, women, and children with mobility, vision, and … Continue reading “Metzler v. Kaiser”
It is essential that all consumers have the ability to conduct business matters with companies by phone. In order for deaf and hard of hearing consumers to communicate with companies, they must use a relay calling service that involves an interpreter who facilitates communication between the consumer and business representative. In 2009, DRA investigated complaints … Continue reading “Guzman v. Wells Fargo”
In 2012, DRA, The California Council of the Blind (CCB), and the Law Offices of Jay Koslofsky reached a cooperative agreement with Lane Bryant. As a result of the agreement, Lane Bryant has added tactile keypads to its point-of-sale devices at all of its 83 locations in California. This accessibility feature will ensure that blind … Continue reading “Lane Bryant Structured Negotiations”
Going to the movies is a central part of American life, which the deaf and hard of hearing community has been largely excluded from up until DRA’s recent settlement with Cinemark Theaters, the third largest movie chain in the country. In November of 2010, DRA and Co-counsel John Waldo filed a class action lawsuit on … Continue reading “Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA), et al. v. Cinemark”
This federal class action lawsuit was filed in September of 2011. More than a decade after 9/11, New Yorkers with disabilities continued to face disproportionate risks of catastrophic harm and death during disasters – as Hurricanes Irene had shown, and as Sandy soon demonstrated. The class of 900,000 New York residents with disabilities included people with vision, … Continue reading “Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID), et al. v. Mayor Bloomberg, et al.”
On January 21, 2010, in a settlement announced by DRA and the City of Oakland, Oakland agreed to adopt an emergency plan which includes the needs of people with all types of disabilities during emergency disasters. Oakland is particularly vulnerable to emergency disasters. Since 1983, it has experienced eight Presidential-declared disasters, including the 1989 Loma … Continue reading “California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), et al. v. City of Oakland, et al.”
In 1996, DRA filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of 10 students with learning disabilities challenging Boston University’s new policy for evaluating accommodation requests of students with learning disabilities as unreasonable, overly-burdensome, and in violation of the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Massachusetts state law. Plaintiffs challenged three aspects of Boston University’s policy: BU … Continue reading “Guckenberger v Boston University”