Parents Against Disability Discrimination v. Equity Residential
This class action lawsuit sought to stop disability discrimination by a private contractor that provides housing for military families living on the U.S. Army base at Fort Lewis, Washington. The lawsuit alleged that the private contractor, known as Equity Residential, violated fair housing and civil rights laws by, among other things, failing to make reasonable physical modifications to housing units as needed by disabled individuals and failing to make reasonable accommodations to policies, practices, and procedures needed by the disabled. On September 27, 2005, the parties entered into a broad reaching settlement in which the defendants agreed to pay damages; implement new, streamlined procedures by which residents could request reasonable structural modifications or other accommodations; implement its long term construction plan in a way that ensures 10% of housing units at Fort Lewis are accessible; build new housing and common areas in accordance with federal and state accessibility standards; and provide training for staff on disability and fair housing rights. Sid Wolinsky and Monica Goracke of Disability Rights Advocates in Berkeley, CA were lead counsel. Michael Withey of Seattle, WA; Christopher Brancart of Pescadero, CA; and Public Justice’s Victoria Ni were co-counsel.
Below are Briefs and Documents for the Parents Against Disability Discrimination case
