Atascadero v. Scanlon

DREDF joined with other national disability advocates to file an amicus brief on behalf of federal legislators in Atascadero. This employment discrimination case involved a claim for back pay and damages against a state agency that received federal funds. The Court held that in enacting Section 504 Congress had not waived the states’ U.S. Constitutional Eleventh Amendment immunity to suits for retroactive monetary relief. Following this adverse decision, DREDF helped to draft and promote the Civil Rights and Remedies Equalization Act of 1986, legislation that overturned the decision.