DRA reached a class action settlement with the Santa Barbara School District in improved access to the District’s High School. DRA represented several students with mobility disabilities who had been subjected to discriminatory and dangerous conditions at this high school. One of the students, Liana Mitchum was struck three times by cars on her way … Continue reading “Mitchum v. Santa Barbara School District”
The Spieler v. Mt. Diablo Consent Decree negotiated in 2000, represents the most sweeping school access settlement to date under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Consent Decree created equal access to school buildings, educational programs, and social programs. Mt. Diablo School District has committed $20 million over ten years to ensure equal access for … Continue reading “Spieler v. Mt. Diablo Unified School District”
The Hayward Unified School District has entered into a comprehensive agreement with nonprofit law firms Disability Rights Advocates and Disability Rights California (formerly Protection & Advocacy, Inc.) and several parents to expand its voter approved District-wide modernization and new building efforts into making all its schools accessible to students with disabilities. The agreement was negotiated … Continue reading “Hayward Unified School District Structured Negotiations”
In 1998, DRA settled a class action lawsuit with U-Haul, whereby U-Haul agreed to: Make significant modifications to its vehicle rental, retail, and storage facilities to bring those facilities into compliance with ADA regulations Provide accessible information to customers with disabilities regarding access and other disability-related issues Make best reasonable efforts to provide removable hand … Continue reading “Richard v. U-haul”
In one of the first cases under the ADA concerning access to business to go to trial, DRA prevailed on behalf of a class of all persons with mobility disabilities who were denied access to Macy’s flagship store at Union Square in San Francisco. Subsequently, in Camalo v. Macy’s, a global settlement was reached resolving … Continue reading “Macy’s Cases”
In September of 2005, a settlement was reached to improve access for soldiers and their family members with disabilities to housing and access at Fort Lewis in Washington, the West Coast headquarters of the U.S. Army. DRA, Stritmatter Kessler Whelan Withey & Coluccio, Brancart & Brancart, and Trial Lawyers for Public Justice represented the plaintiffs … Continue reading “PADD v. Equity Residential”
In 2008, the Court ordered Marriott International, Inc. to provide accessible golf carts at all of its golf facilities nationwide. Accessible golf carts, also known as single-rider carts, are used by individuals with mobility impairments. The carts are operated with hand controls and have seats that swivel to get the golfer into a hitting position. … Continue reading “Celano v. Marriott”
In 2004, the California Youth Authority (CYA), the state’s juvenile prison system, agreed to a major overhaul of the entire CYA system to address the inhumane and illegal conditions of confinement which affect young inmates in the CYA system. The case was brought under state law to stop the CYA from perpetuating illegal conditions within … Continue reading “Farrell v. Allen”
DRA represented the Western Regional Advocacy Project and the Coalition on Homelessness in this lawsuit on behalf of people with psychiatric and mobility disabilities who experienced barriers in San Francisco’s homeless shelter system. DRA reached a settlement with the City that was approved by the court in August of 2010. During the course of the … Continue reading “WRAP v. Newsom”
In July of 2011, DRA reached a settlement with the N.Y. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that resulted in the installation of an elevator at the Dyckman Street subway station. DRA represented the United Spinal Association, whose members live with physical disabilities due to spinal cord injuries and disorders, in this lawsuit against the MTA. The … Continue reading “United Spinal Association v. N.Y. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)”