This case was pointed out to me by a member of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association, of which I am a member, on its facebook page, which is where most of the communication for the Association occurs. This case raises several interesting issues: 1. Does hiring a person to be an ASL
deaf
ScribD Settles and Some Thoughts
Happy new year everyone!
Since I started blogging four years ago, I had never taken a two-week break before. Since my daughter was off from school and my wife took some days off, I decided to give that a shot. Now I am back and ready to get back at it. A two week break…
ADA and Class Actions; Not Impossible (Prisons)
Previously, I have written on whether class actions are possible with respect to ADA claims considering how ADA claims are inherently focused on individual analysis. From reading the case law on a regular basis, I am seeing class actions being allowed with respect to Olmstead claims. Outside of that, it tends to be hit or…
ADA, Sovereign Immunity, and the County Jail
I
Introduction
One of the most complicated topics around is the doctrine of sovereign immunity, which comes from England and says that the King cannot be sued without his consent. We have carried over this doctrine into our 11th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As we have discussed previously numerous times, there are situations where…
Belton v. Georgia settles with a consent decree
In a previous blog entry entitled help-wanted ASL practitioners, I discussed the case of Belton v. Georgia. On October 3, 2014 that case settled with a consent decree. I thought it would be helpful to cover some of the salient points of the consent decree. They are as follows:
Definitional Terms:
1. A deaf…
Right of a deaf child to access a city’s municipal recreational league
I recently came across this article on the Internet discussing a case where the parents of an 8-year-old boy who is deaf are suing Greensburg, Pennsylvania, for failing to provide an interpreter for the child while he plays in the city soccer program. According to the article, the suit was filed on May 29, 2014,…
ADA and prisons
Just what is the exposure to prisons with respect to discriminating against prisoners with disabilities? Prisons have several areas of exposure. First, if a prisoner is employed by the prison and suffers discrimination on the basis of a disability with respect to that employment, title I is involved. Second, the programs and activities of the…
IDEA, Rehab Act, and the ADA: Have to keep in mind all three
Back in 1997, I wrote an article for the Florida bar Journal discussing the relationship between the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act. I have had the good fortune to see that article cited numerous times in various law review articles. If I were to update that article today,…
McDonnell-Douglass and the ADA; An Imperfect fit
In employment discrimination cases, there are two kinds of cases (those involving direct evidence and those involving indirect evidence). Direct evidence cases are the proverbial smoking gun. That is, the plaintiff has explicit evidence that discrimination occurred. However, in most situations, it is difficult if not impossible to find direct evidence, rather things taken together…
What do you have to show to get damages under title II of the ADA?
With respect to title II of the ADA, and title I for that matter as well, the only way you can get damages is to show intentional discrimination. With respect to suing a governmental entity for violations of title II, what exactly is it that you have to show to get damages? A recent Rehabilitation…