Legal Advocacy

 

We advocate for clients and represent them in court, serve as co-counsel, and file amicus curiae briefs in appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court in high impact disability rights cases. We select cases and issues that have the potential to affect large groups of people with disabilities and achieve law reform.

 

State and Federal Court

• National Association of the Deaf, Western Massachusetts Association of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired and Lee Nettles vs. Netflix, Inc.

  
  

• American Council of the Blind v. Michael Astrue, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, et al

  
  

• Miguel Castaneda on behalf of himself and others similarly situated v. Burger King Corporation, et al.

  
  

• Mark Chambers, Woodrow Falls, Jr., M.H., Phillip K., Gerald Scott, Mary T., and The Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco, et. al. vs. City and County of San Francisco.

  
  

• K.C., et al. vs. Jack O'Connell, et al.

  
  

• Sanchez v. Johnson

  
  

• Finger v. Walgreens

  
  

• Zepeda and Zepeda v. County of San Mateo (California)

  
  

• Davis et al. v. Department of Health and Human Services et al.

  
  

• Colmenares v. Braemar Country Club

  
  

• Midpenninsula Citizens for Fair Housing vs. Lytton Gardens, Inc., Community Housing Inc., and Carrasco & Associates

  
  

• Ingram v. Serendipity Land Yachts

  
  

• Emma C. v. Delaine Eastin, et al.

  
  

• O'Hara v. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

  
  

• Greener v. Shell

  
  

• Ferreyra and Marsh v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak")

   

U.S Supreme Court

• Tennessee v. Lane

  
  

• Raytheon Co. v. Joel Hernandez

  
  

• Medical Board of California v. Michael J. Hason

  
  

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., v. Ella Williams

  
  

• Chevron USA, Inc. v. Echazabal

  
  

• Garrett, et al. v. University of Alabama

  
  

• The Sutton Trilogy Sutton v. United Airlines, Murphy v. United Parcel Service, and Albertsons v. Kirkingburg

  
  

• Bragdon v. Abbott

 

Negotiated Settlements

• 24 Hour Fitness agrees to welcome patrons with disabilities, confirming their philosophy: "Fitness A Way of Life for Everyone."

  
  

 

Amicus Briefs

• Ayon v. Cintas Corporation (2007)

  
  

• Bates v. UPS (2007)

  
  

• B.G. v. M.R. (2007)

  
  

• Francisco-Figueroa v. Gonzales (2007)

  
  

• Hollonbeck v. U.S. Olympic Committee, and Shepherd v. U.S. Olympic Committee (2007)

  
  

• In Re Marriage Cases (2007)

  
  

• Olson v. Automobile Club of Southern California (2007)

  
  

• R.K. v. Hayward Unified School District (2007)

  
  

• Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association [TSSAA] v. Brentwood Academy (Brentwood II) (2007)

  
  

• Z.S. v. Neptune Bd of Ed (2007)

  
  

• Capitol People First v. Department of Developmental Services (2006)

  
  

• Green v. State of California (2006)

  
  

• Lonicki v. Sutter Health Central (2006)

  
  

• Pioneer Electronics v. Superior Court (2006)

  
  

• USA v. AMC Entertainment (2006)

  
  

• Woo v. Lockyer (2006)

  
  

• Gambini v. Total Renal Care (2005)

  
  

• Tennessee v. Lane (2004)

  
  

• Yanowitz v. L'Oreal (2004)

  
  

• Department of Human Resources v. Hibbs (2003)

  
  

• Raytheon v. Hernandez (2003)

  
  

• Chevron v. Echazabal (2002)

  
  

• U.S. Airways v. Barnett (2002)

  
  

• PGA Tour v. Martin (2001)

  
  

• Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents (2000)

  
  

• Olmstead v. L.C. ex rel Zimring (1999)

  
  

• Lane v. Pena (1996)

  
  

• Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools (1992)

  
  

• School Board of Nassau County v. Arline (1987)

  
  

• U.S. Department of Transportation v. Paralyzed Veterans of America (1986)

  
  

• Atascadero v. Scanlon (1985)

  
  

• City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center (1985)

  
  

DREDF has also joined in filing a number of friends-of-the-court briefs in cases in both state and federal courts. Read more

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updated 8.25.11