Sheppard Mullin And Disability Rights Advocates Achieve Final Settlement Approval Making New York City’s Sidewalks Accessible To People With Disabilities
Sheppard Mullin is pleased to announce that today a federal judge gave final approval to a landmark settlement to make New York City’s sidewalks accessible to people with disabilities. The firm has been working on this case on a pro bono basis since 2014 as co-counsel with Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), one of the leading nonprofit disability rights legal centers in the nation.
“Disability advocates have fought for decades to make New York City’s sidewalks accessible for all. I am very proud to represent these tireless advocates and of our achievement in this litigation,” said Dan Brown, Sheppard Mullin litigator and its Pro Bono Partner.
Background on the Case
The settlement stems from and resolves two separate class action lawsuits: the first suit was filed in 1994, soon after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), on behalf of United Spinal Association, n/k/a Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association. Initially resolved in 2002, the City agreed to spend a significant amount of money each year installing curb ramps throughout the City. In 2014, a new suit was brought by DRA and Sheppard Mullin on behalf of the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) and several individuals alleging the vast majority of curb ramps in lower Manhattan did not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Click here to read DRA’s press release.