DRLC in the News
Front-page LA Times article on DRLC's legal actions to make sidewalks accessible
The Disability Rights Legal Center's lawsuit against Los Angeles over the city's inaccessible public spaces made the front page of the January 30 Los Angeles Times. DRLC is litigating a class action against the city for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by excluding disability community. Senior Staff Attorney Surisa Rivers is quoted in the article, saying "The city has never developed a comprehensive plan to address this issue, even when economic times were good. Such failure hasn't been a story about the city's inability to finance disability access, but the lack of political will to do so." Plaintiffs Brent Pilgreen and Judy Griffin, who depend on wheelchairs for mobility, told the Times how broken sidewalks and missing curbramps disrupt and even endanger their lives, and how the city's longstanding neglect of the problem makes them feel. "They're not sensitive to it and they have other priorities," says Griffin. "It's very easy to go for the big gold, to go for the stadium, rather than patch up the sidewalks for people you don't value." The lawsuit is Mark Willits, Judy Griffin, Brent Pilgree, and Communities Actively Living Indpendent and Free vs. City of Los Angeles, Case No. CV 10 5782-R (RCx). Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky LLP is DRLC's co-counsel in this case.
The Times article sparkled other media outlets to cover the problem. Online news site The Atlantic Cities posted the story “L.A.’s $1.5 Billion Sidewalk Problem”, and KABC-TV aired the segment “Disabled suing LA over poor sidewalk conditions,” which features interviews with Ms. Rivers and Ms. Griffin.
LA Daily News: Disability rights groups sue L.A.'s Community Redevelopment Agency
The Daily News wrote the article "Disability rights groups sue L.A.'s Community Redevelopment Agency" about the Disability Rights Legal Center lawsuit over inaccessible housing that received federal and community development funding. Under federal and state law, apartments and condominiums funded by federal housing and redevelopment funds must be accessible to people in wheelchairs and those who are vision or hearing impaired. The city and agency ignored their legal obligations, and allocated millions of federal and redevelopment dollars for inaccessible apartments. The plaintiffs are asking the court to order the defendants to survey all projects that received federal housing and community development funds, report on the extent of noncompliance, and bring all apartments into compliance. In addition, plaintiffs are asking for damages incurred as a result of the defendants' discriminatory conduct and practices. The lawsuit is Independent Living Center of Southern California et. al. vs. City of Los Angeles et. al. Disability Rights California, Relman Dane & Colfax PLLC, and David Geffen Law Firm: are DRLC's co-counsel in this case.
DRLC featured in LA Weekly article
'Wheelchair Hell in Men's Central Jail'
The Disability Rights Legal Center's class action lawsuit, on behalf of people with mobility disabilities incarcerated in Los Angeles County's jails, is the focus of an article in the December 8th edition of the LA Weekly. Disability Rights California, ACLU of Southern California, and Winston & Strawn LLP, are co-counsel on this case. In "Wheelchair Hell in Men's Central Jail", Chris Vogel reports in vivid detail on the discrimination and deplorable conditions inmates with disabilities endure in the Men's Central Jail, and the DRLC lawsuit against the agencies and officials responsible for operating the jail system. Shawna Parks, DRLC Legal Director, is prominently featured in the article. The case is Johnson, et al. v. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, et al., Case No. CV 08-03515 DDP (JTLx). Read the Motion for Class Certification
DRLC's education advocacy featured in California Watch
On December 16, investigative news outlet California Watch posted an article about DRLC's lawsuits against Riverside Unified School District. The district has been manipulating parents into signing "confidential settlements," which include waiving their rights to participate in their child's program for the school year. In the article the plaintiffs share their experiences and emotions with reporter Joanna Lin. Krista McGhee, whose son has Asperger's syndrome, told California Watch: "I was just at my wit's end. I felt like a soldier with battle fatigue. ... I felt backed into a corner." Heather McGunigle, DRLC Inland Empire Program Director, and the attorney representing both parties, is prominently featured in the story. The families are asking the court to declare the settlements unenforceable, to order the district to end this illegal practice, and to compensate the children with services they lost because of the district's misconduct. See B.K.M., et al. v. Riverside Unified School District, et al. CV 11-08287 JHN (SPx) and Y.G., et al. v. Riverside Unified School District et al. EDCV 10-01002 CAS (OPx).
Media Buzz From the FDR Dinner
The Beverly Hills Courier wrote on December 9th "Kaufman Honored For Advocacy To Ensure Access For Diabetes Patients," and on December 3rd DiabetesHealth wrote "Nick Jonas Receives DREAM Award From Disability Rights Legal Center." The dinner was featured in the December 12th Los Angeles Business Journal, in the People on The Move section, and the December 16th Los Angeles Daily Journal, in the Community News section. The Daily Journal ran a photo from the dinner of Paula Pearlman, DRLC Executive Director, with Craig Robison, Chief Diversity Officer at NBCUniversal, honored with the DRLC's Corporate Diversity Award. The broad coverage of the event and honorees is raising awareness about the challenges people with disabilities face each day, and the important advocacy work by disability rights leaders, and by organizations such as the DRLC.
DRLC reaches proposed settlement to improve accessibility of San Bernardino County courthouses
The Disability Rights Legal Center and San Bernardino County have reached a proposed settlement agreement in a federal class-action lawsuit DRLC filed to improve accessibility of the county's courthouses. The San Bernardino Sun published the November 15, 2011, article "Settlement to give disabled persons better access to San Bernardino County" on the proposed agreement. DRLC Executive Director Paula Pearlman is quoted in the article, saying:"We're really proud of the settlement. We really commend the county and court system for the commitment they've made." The Victorville Daily Press and Associated Press also reported on the story. The case is Goldkorn, et. al. v. County of San Bernardino, et. Click here to read the proposed settlement agreement.
Hoy: 'Shocking Abuse of Disabled Inmates'
This November 8, 2011, feature article in the Spanish-language newspaper Hoy reports on the appalling conditions for inmates with disabilities in Los Angeles County jails, and the lawsuit filed by Disability Rights Legal Center and other legal advocy groups against the agencies and officials responsible for the operating the jails. See Johnson v. Los Anglees County Sheriff's Department . Read the Spanish-language version, or the English-language version.
Associated Press: 'City of LA to review emergency plan for disabled'
The Associated Press wrote the following article about U.S. District Court Judge Consuelo Marshall's order on November 9, 2011, regarding injunctive relief:
"Los Angeles will have to hire an independent expert to review and revise the city's emergency plan to make sure it accounts for the safety of disabled people, a judge said in an order issued Wednesday.
Judge Consuelo B. Marshall is giving the city three years to revise all components of the city's emergency plans in the order. At the end of the three years, the independent experts must submit a report detailing the ways they've improved safety for the disabled.
The order follows a February ruling in which Marshall found the city had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to meet the needs of its residents with disabilities when planning for disasters.A class-action lawsuit was filed in 2009, spurred by the disaster that befell many disabled people during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans. Disabled people were abandoned and left stranded during evacuations because of a lack of strong planning.
The lawsuit noted that Los Angeles is particularly vulnerable to disasters, including earthquakes and wildfires. The city has some 800,000 disabled residents out of a population of about 4 million, according to the Disability Rights Legal Center in Los Angeles. The judge's order asks that the work begin immediately."
Cancer Rights Conference in Chicago generates buzz
The Chicago Tribune and Law Bulletin published articles about the June 24 Cancer Rights Conference in Chicago hosted by the Cancer Legal Resource Center. The Chicago Tribune article, "Cancer patients get help through financial, health care mazes," brought attention to the event and highlighted CLRC services. The reporter interviewed Illinois resident Wendy Schwartz, a cancer survivor who attended last year's conference. "When you just get a cancer diagnosis, you're so overwhelmed by everything that you're not thinking about what government programs are there to help me," Schwartz told the Tribune. "You're just thinking, 'Am I going to live? Am I going to lose organs?' You have the cancer blinders on." Joanna Morales, CLRC Director, and Monica Fawzy Bryant, CLRC Midwest Regional Director, are prominently quoted in the Tribune article. The Law Bulletin story "Upcoming conference will address some cancer-related legal issues" appeared in the newspaper on June 17. After Chicago, the CLRC will host Cancer Rights Conferences on Friday, September 23, at Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.; and Friday, October 21, at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI. For more information and to register for these events, go to www.CancerRightsConference.org.
Chicago Tribune photo by William DeShazer of Illinois resident and cancer survivor Wendy Schwartz attended last year's Cancer Rights Conference.
Judge Rules that boy with autism has the right
to bring his service dog to school
On Monday, June 13, a federal judge agreed that Cypress School District is violating the civil rights of a seven-year-old boy with autism by preventing him from taking his service animal to school, an accommodation he is entitled to under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The Honorable Andrew J. Guilford of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted a motion for preliminary injunction filed by the Disability Rights Legal Center and co-counsel Winston & Strawn LLP. The child has been attending school without his service dog since the last two weeks of the 2009-20010 school year because of Cypress’ district policy.
The Judge concluded that Eddy qualifies as a service dog under the Americans With Disabilities Act because of his extensive training and because he does much more than “comfort” the child. “Most importantly, Eddy prevents Plaintiff from the potentially harmful act of elopement. (Shore Decl. ¶ 17.) Eddy also helps prevent Plaintiff from shrieking and throwing tantrums. (Id. ¶ 37.) These tasks certainly qualify as ‘preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors,’ as listed in 28 C.F.R. § 35.104,” Judge Guilford wrote. Read the Order Granting Motion for Preliminary Injunction
The media has been covering this precedent-setting case. Los Angeles Times wrote the article "Judge rules in favor of letting autistic boy take service dog to school" NBC Los Angeles interviewed the family and Maronel Barajas, Senior Staff Attorney for the DRLC’s Education Advocacy Program, for a news feature “Family of Autistic Boy Rejoices After Judge Rules Service Dog Must be Allowed in School.” KABC-TV, also interviewed the family and attorneys for DRLC co-counsel Winston & Strawn LLP, for its news feature, “Cypress Family Fights for Autism Service Dogs.”
The school district’s discrimination against the child galvanized the U.S. Department of Justice. On Friday, June 10 the Department filed a Statement of Interest of the United States in favor of the Court issuing a preliminary injunction. "Day in and day out since June 2010, C.C. … has been and continues to be irreparably harmed by the Cypress School District’s … denial of his civil right to use his service dog in school, a right protected by Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990…" the Department writes in its statement. Download the Department's full Statement
First 5 LA publishes informative article on
Children's Benefits Access Guide
First 5 LA, a child-advocacy organization created by California voters for improving the lives of children in Los Angeles County, has published an online article on the Children's Benefits Access Guide,a Disability Rights Legal Center publication that helps parents access healthcare benefits for children with disabilities in L.A. County.
For more information about the Guide go to the Children's Benefits Access Project page
Paula Pearlman and Shawna Parks write
guest column for Daily Journal
APRIL 11: Paula Pearlman, Disability Rights Legal Center Executive Director, and Shawna Parks, Disability Rights Legal Center Legal Director, wrote a guest article, "Removing Barriers --- One Class Action at a Time" for the Los Angeles Daily Journal newspaper published on April 11 about the appropriate use of class actions in disability cases. The article begins: "Brown v. Board of Education marked a watershed moment in this country's legal history --- separate is not equal. That moment was equally noteworthy for people with disabilities who have spent the last six decades fighting for full inclusion and equal participation in society and its institutions. Despite longstanding California law, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, physical barriers continue to pervade both private businesses and government programs and services. The pervasiveness of these barriers often calls for a comprehensive and thorough response, which is often achieved through a class action." Download a PDF of the article.
DRLC represents Ms. Wheelchair California Pageant in discrimination lawsuit against Starline Tours
MARCH 29: Disability Rights Legal Center and Kirkland & Ellis LLP filed a complain on March 29 against Starline Tours of Hollywood on behalf of thousands of persons with mobility disabilities who are denied physical access to Starline's tours because of their disability. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges that Starline's tour buses are inaccessible to people who use wheelchairs. The complaint also alleges that Starline misrepresents the accessibility of its tour buses.
DisabilityScoop:"Hollywood Sightseeing Tours Violate ADA, Suite Alleges"
KCBS2 TV: "Disabled Beauty Pageant Winners Sue Hollywood Tour Bus Company"
KABC7 TV: "Starline Sued Over Wheelchair Access on Buses"
DRLC Wins Landmark Decision on City of Los Angeles' Emergency Preparedness Plan
FEBRUARY 11, 2011: In a landmark decision, which has national implications, a federal court ruled today that the City of Los Angeles violated federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, by failing to meet the needs of its residents with disabilities in planning for natural and other disasters. Disability Rights Legal Center along with Disability Rights Advocates, headquartered in Berkeley, California, represented the plaintiffs.
Los Angeles Times, "Los Angeles' disaster plans discriminate against people with disabilities, judge rules"
The Huffington Post "Disaster Plan For People With Disabilities Neede for Los Angeles"
DRLC sues Disneyland for failing to prepare for the evacuation of persons with mobility disabilities
FEBRUARY 7, 2011: Today, Disability Rights Legal Center and co-counsel Girardi| Keese filed a lawsuit on behalf of Joe Martinez and his wife charging the owners and operators of Disneyland with violating the Americans With Disabilities Act and California laws, which were enacted to protect the civil rights of persons with disabilities to use public facilities in a full and equal manner, including being evacuated in the same way as other patrons.
KCBS / KCAL TV Quadriplegic Suing Disneyland For Leaving Him Stranded On ‘Small World’ Ride
Associated Press "Quadriplegic Man Sues Disney Over 'Small World'"
TIME NewsFeed "Quadriplegic Sues Disney After Being Trapped on 'Small Word' Ride"
Orange County Register "Quadriplegic visitor sues Disney after being stuck on ride"
DRLC settlement improves education for inmates of L.A. County's largest juvenile detention camp
NOVEMBER 2010: The DRLC, along with co-counsels ACLU and Public Counsel Law Center, settled a lawsuit alleging that Los Angeles County agencies failed to provide a constitutionally adequate education to youth detained at Camp Challenger, the County's largest juvenile detention facility. Under the agreement, the Los Angeles County Office of Education and the Los Angeles Probation Department will work with a team of nationally renowned experts to implement systemic program reforms at Challenger and Christa McAuliffe High School to provide education and special education to the hundreds of youth who are detained there. The reforms will also focus on leadership at Challenger and sustainability in order to insure that the changes implemented as part of the settlement are permanent.
Los Angeles Times "Settlement will boost education at L.A. County probation camp"
La Opinion "Programa educativo para reclusos jovenes"
The South Los Angeles Report "Lawsuit settlement changes system at Los Angeles' largest juvenile detention center"
Beverly Hills Courier "Lawsuit Alleging Failure to Educate Jailed Teens Is Settled"
La Opinion article tells story of DRLC client excluded from school activities
NOVEMBER 22, 2010: La Opinion, the nation's largest Spanish-language newspaper and second most-read paper in Los Angeles, printed a feature article on November 22, "Discapacitada demanda al LAUSD," about a DRLC client. After Eagle Rock High School left a student with a disability behind on field trips and a grad night trip to Disneyland, the DRLC took legal action against the Los Angeles Unified School District for violating her civil rights.
Disability Rights Legal Center client featured in Los Angeles Times article
SEPTEMBER 28, 2010: "Yamileth Fuentes constantly worried about her son Michael's education. As the mother of a child with leaning disabilities, she made sure he didn't get overlooked in school. She fretted when his math worksheets weren't challenging enough, or when his spelling slipped." Read the rest of the September 28 Los Angeles Times article "With son behind bars, mother wages battles for his education"
A Place Called Home
We all need homes that we- and those who visit us- can get around with ease. This is important for families as well as communities. The disability rights movement has always been a champion of accessible housing and independent living. Too often, however, society has assumed that people with disabilities would simply live in nursing homes or rehabilitation centers. Full story
Disabled Allege Poor Care in Jails
Los Angeles Times article
Federal Judge Sides with Evicted Hotel Tenants in Dispute with L.A. Agency
Los Angeles Times article
Ideas for Accommodation: Ensuring Equal Access to Legal Services for Clients with Disabilities
As legal advocates for underserved population groups, we have an ethical obligation to ensure that our services are accessible to all people, including those with disabilities. Full story
Opening Doors and Minds
Universities are legally required to provide students who need them with reasonable accommodations for course examinations. They must make certain that students know about these services. While these laws are in place, it often takes advocacy to put teeth into them. Full story
DRLC's TJ Hill Quoted in Voice of America News
TJ Hill, Director of Options Counseling and Lawyer Referral Service, was interviewed on the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for a Voice of America online article. TJ discussed how the ADA "changed the landscape of the country" in opening access to public transportation and accommodations for people with disabilities. Full story
LLS In Brief: Getting to Know the Cancer Legal Resource Center
Loyola Law School's e-newsletter, In Brief, features the Cancer Legal Resource Center. Full story
Legal Protection in the Workplace and in Health Insurance
The CLRC is often asked what protections there may be in both the workplace and in health insurance for cancer survivors. Full story
Fighting to Live, Remain Insured
Loyola Law School extern with the Cancer Legal Resource Center quoted in LA Times article discussing his experiences working at the CLRC and helping callers navigate their insurance companies. Full story