Civil Rights Litigation Project
Overview
The Civil Rights Litigation Project litigates high impact discrimination cases that address the civil rights of people with all types of disabilities. This includes class action and individual cases involving cutting-edge legal issues in the area of disability rights. Our cases challenge discriminatory practices by government agencies, businesses, and educational institutions. Examples include: inaccessible newly constructed or altered buildings, refusal to provide sign language interpreters or alternative format materials, inaccessible government programs, discriminatory insurance and health care systems, inaccessible transportation services, and policies that exclude people with disabilities.
Staff
Paula Pearlman , Esq., Executive Director
Shawna L. Parks, Esq., Director of Litigation
Tiffany Green, Esq., Staff Attorney
Debra Patkin, Esq., Staff Attorney
Sage Reeves, Esq., Staff Attorney
Steve Cuellar, Litigation Assistant
Sarah Patterson, ASL Interpreter
Contact
(888) 999-DRLC / (213) 736-1031 voice / (213) 736-8310 TTY
(213) 736-1428 fax
Email: options@lls.edu
Complaints about discrimination are accepted through the Options Counseling Program. For more information on the case acceptance process contact Options Counseling.
Through its Cases the Civil Rights Litigation Project Has:
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Improved the services that San Bernardino treats and educates youth with disabilities who are in the juvenile halls- Doe 2 et al. v. County of San Bernardino, et al.
Final Notice Probation Settlement
Final Settlement Probation Settlement
Final Settlement Schools Settlement
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Stopped the County of Los Angeles from closing Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Hospital, the only hospital in the area that is willing and able to serve individuals with disabilities- Rodde, et al., v. Bonta.
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Created greater physical accessibility to all 48 courthouses in Los Angeles County Superior Court system - Miles, et al v. County of Los Angeles
Final Summary Notice,
Final Summary Notice
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Created legal precedent in family law that one child's disability cannot be used as a reason to separate him from his brothers or sisters- Heath v. Heath.
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Changed policies and practices of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and related school districts to ensure that foster children are educated in the least restrictive environment: established right to discovery of the other acts of discrimination to prove pattern and practice of discrimination and intent - Keith H. v. Long Beach Unified School District, et al
Keith H. Long Beach Unified ch. Dist., 228 F.R.D. 652 (C.D. Cal, 2005)
Order Denying Los Angeles County's Motion to Dismiss (2005)
Legal Updates
DRLC, Learning Rights Law Center, The Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center, and Latham & Watkins LLP sue the California Department of Education over statewide failure to provide transition planning services to youth eligible for special education. Learn more
The students in this case allege that the agencies named in the suit have failed to provide the plaintiffs, and other special education students statewide, with critical programs, known as "transition services" that are required by state and federal law to help students with disabilities make a seamless transition from school to adult life, including work, further education, and independent living. The students seek a statewide injunction ordering California to improve transition planning services for youth in special education.
DRLC and Co-Counsel Ben Kim Successfully Reverse a Bad Special Education Decision at the Ninth Circuit
Park v. Anaheim Union High School District, 464 F. 3d 1025 (9th Cir., 2006).
Based on the petition for rehearing filed by DRLC and Mr. Kim, the judges reversed their earlier decision to deny fees to a parent under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) who had prevailed on some but not all issues, and held that “the district court's decision [to deny prevailing party status to the plaintiff] ignored not only the letter of the law, but also the spirit and purpose of allowing attorney's fees in cases where parents have been forced to litigate for years against school districts to obtain all or even part of what the [IDEA] requires in the first place.” The court concluded that the issues on which plaintiff prevailed “go to the very essence of the [IDEA],” and remanded to the district court to determine the amount of reasonable fees.
DRLC’s Class Action Settlement With Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Regarding Effective Communication for People Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
This settlement, the result of consolidated lawsuits filed by Thelma Valenzuela and Joseph Genova on behalf of themselves and others who are deaf or hard of hearing and who interact with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, addresses effective communication in field interactions and jail settings. To read the notice of settlement or the settlement agreement, please click on the links below.
Notice of Settlement
Settlement Agreement
Notice of Settlement
Settlement Agreement