June 19, 2012
In a major victory for the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the nation's premier civil rights organization for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, the District Court of Massachusetts held that the ADA applies to website-only businesses.
Cases
Opposition to Netflix’s Motion for Judgement
May 15, 2012
DREDF and Lewis Feinberg filed an Opposition to Netflix's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings asserting that Netflix is a place of public accommodation under Title III of the ADA, that Netflix sufficiently controls its Watch Instantly content to be held liable under the ADA, and that the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act does not conflict with or supersede the ADA.
National Association of the Deaf v. Netflix
June 16, 2011
An estimated 36 million Americans are deaf or hard of hearing. The deaf and hard of hearing community had repeatedly expressed concerns to Netflix about its failure to provide equal access to Netflix's streaming video product, “Watch Instantly.” Plaintiffs National Association of the Deaf, Western Massachusetts Association of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, and Lee Nettles asked the court to declare that Netflix's behavior constituted a violation of Title III of the ADA, and to require that Netflix provide closed captions on all of its streaming content.
American Nurses Association v. Torlakson
December 22, 2010
On August 12, 2013, the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in American Nurses Association v. Torlakson, a landmark case involving diabetes care in California public schools. The case came before the Court after more than seven years of litigation, which began with a class action lawsuit that was resolved by a settlement agreement allowing trained non-medical school personnel to administer insulin when a nurse is not available. That provision of the settlement was challenged by several nursing organizations DREDF and co-counsel represented Intervener and Appellant American Diabetes Association before the California Supreme Court.
Notice of Class Action – ACB v. Astrue
October 21, 2008
Notice of Class Action with information for all class members in the American Council of the Blind's lawsuit against the Social Security Administration, ACB, et al. v. Astrue, et al.
Chambers et al. v. City and County of San Francisco
September 18, 2008
Judge Alsup approved the settlement agreement in Chambers et al. v. City and County of San Francisco. The settlement will prevent unnecessary institutionalization and increase community-based housing and service options in San Francisco. The Chambers press release has additional information.
Burger King Corporation
September 10, 2008
In September 2008, DREDF and co-counsel filed a class action lawsuit against Burger King for violations of state and federal civil rights disability access laws in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The suit asked Burger King to remove the barriers in their stores and fix their discriminatory practices. The initial case included ten Burger King stores in California and settled in 2010. A second case was brought in 2011 covering 86 additional Burger King restaurants. A settlement was approved in October 2012.
Castaneda v. Burger King
September 10, 2008
DREDF and co-counsel filed a class action lawsuit against Burger King for violations of state and federal civil rights disability access laws in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The suit asks Burger King to remove the barriers in their stores and fix their discriminatory practices.
Update on Mark Chambers et al. v. City and County of San Francisco
July 12, 2007
Judge William Alsup granted plaintiffs' motion to certify the lawsuit as a class action.
Laguna Honda Residents Sue San Francisco for Discrimination
October 13, 2006
Residents of Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco, the nation's largest public nursing home, have filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that they are unnecessarily confined at the facility and are capable of living in their own homes or in the community, a claim supported by the 1999 US Supreme Court Olmstead decision.