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Appellate Section

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT

  • Arizona v. Harkins Amusement Enterprises, Inc. (9th Cir.) -- Amicus
    • Closed captions and video descriptions are auxiliary aids that permit individuals with sensory disabilities to enjoy a movie theater’s service within the limitations of their disabilities
    • These auxiliary aids do not alter a movie theater’s service of exhibiting movies
    • There is nothing in the ADA’s text, legislative history, or regulations that indicates that closed captioning is not required

     
    Document Date 
    Amicus Brief [PDF] 02/06/09
  • Zibbell v. Granholm (6th Cir.) -- Intervenor
    • The Division intervened in this appeal to defend the constitutionality of the ADA provision abrogating states’ Eleventh Amendment immunity for claims brought pursuant to Title II

     
    Document Date 
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF], (unpublished), available at 2009 WL 440298 02/23/09
    Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 09/03/08
  • Germano v. International Profit Ass'n (7th Cir.) -- Amicus
    • Statements made by a party and relayed through a communications assistant are not hearsay and are admissible as statements by a party-opponent under Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(C) and (D)
    • Treating relayed statements as hearsay is contrary to the purposes of the ADA, and impedes the government’s enforcement of federal statutes that bar discrimination against persons with disabilities

     
    Document Date 
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF], reported at 544 F.3d 798 09/12/08
    Brief as Amicus [PDF] 02/21/08
  • Goodman v. Donald (S.D. Ga.) -- Intervenor
    • This court should avoid deciding the constitutionality of Title II of the ADA
    • Congress validly abrogated States’ Eleventh Amendment immunity to claims under Title II of the ADA

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 11/09/07
  • George v. BART (9th Cir.) -- Appellant
    • The district court erred in holding DOT’s regulatory definition of “readily accessible” invalid
    • Plaintiffs’ alternative arguments regarding the validity of DOT’s regulations are erroneous

     
    Document Date 
    Reply Brief [PDF] 02/19/08
    Brief as Appellant [PDF] 10/26/07
  • Miller v. Johnson (E.D. Va.) -- Intervenor
    • Congress validly abrogated States’ Eleventh Amendment immunity to claims under Title II of the ADA

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 10/25/07
  • United States & Spencer v. Earley (4th Cir) -- Intervenor-Appellant
    • The district court erred in reaching the question of Title II’s constitutionality
    • The district court erred in dismissing Spencer’s claims on the basis of Eleventh Amendment immunity
    • This court should avoid deciding a new constitutional question
    • Should this court reach the question, it should hold that Congress validly abrogated States’ Eleventh Amendment immunity to claims under Title II of the ADA, as applied in the prison context

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Appellant [PDF] 11/02/07
    Reply Brief [PDF] 12/14/07
    Court of Appeals Decision (unpublished), available at 278 F. App'x 254 05/16/08
  • Haas v. Quest Recovery Services (6th Cir) -- Intervenor
    • In light of this Court’s holding that plaintiffs have not stated valid Title II claims against the State, this Court’s subsequent conclusion that the State is immune to plaintiffs’ Title II claims is in contravention of the Supreme Court’s instructions in Georgia and should not be reinstated

     
    Document Date 
    Letter Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 04/18/07
    Court of Appeals Decision on Remand [PDF] (unpublished), available at 2007 WL 2386464 08/24/07
  • Miller v. California Speedway Corp (9th Cir) -- Amicus
    • The Department of Justice’s ADA regulations require assembly areas to provide wheelchair seating areas with lines of sight over standing spectators where patrons can be expected to stand during events

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Amicus [PDF] 04/05/07
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF] reported at 536 F.3d 1020 08/08/08
  • Disabled in Action of Pennsylvania v. SEPTA (3d Cir) -- Amicus
    • The district court’s holding conflicts with the statutory language
    • The district court’s interpretation could have negative, unintended consequences by discouraging informal resolution of disputes and unnecessarily increasing litigation
    • The district court improperly used the “discovery rule” to accelerate the running of the statute of limitations on DIA’s claims
    • Under appropriate circumstances, a plaintiff can seek injunctive relief to prevent an anticipated violation of Section 12147(a) before the alterations are completed; the availability of such relief does not accelerate the running of the statute of limitations

     
    Document Date 
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF] 08/19/08
    Brief as Amicus [PDF] 03/28/07
  • Chase v. Baskerville (E.D. Va.) -- Intervenor
    • This court should not reach the validity of Title II's abrogation
    • Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act is valid Section 5 legislation as applied to prison administration
    • As the Fourth Circuit has held, state agencies validly waive their Eleventh Amendment immunity to claims under Section 504 when they accept federal financial assistance

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 01/19/07
    District Court Decision (unpublished) 08/02/07
  • Welch v. Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (W.D. Va.) -- Intervenor
    • The Fourth Circuit has already held that Title II validly abrogates States’ immunity to claims under Title II of the ADA in the context of public higher education
    • The Fourth Circuit has also held that a state agency validly waives its Eleventh Amendment immunity to claims under Section 504 when it accepts federal financial assistance

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 01/19/07
  • United States v. AMC Entertainment, Inc. (9th Cir.) -- Appellee
    • The district court did not abuse its discretion in entering the remedial decree
    • All remaining arguments in AMC’s opening brief have been waived and, in any event, are meritless

     
    Document Date 
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF], reported at 549 F.3d 760 12/05/08
    Brief as Appellee [PDF] 09/08/06
  • Buchanan v. Maine (1st Cir.) -- Intervenor
    • This court should not reach the constitutionality of Title II unless necessary
    • Title II is valid Fourteenth Amendment legislation as applied in the context of the provision of mental health services

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Amicus [PDF] 08/30/06
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF], reported at 469 F.3d 158 11/16/06
  • George v. BART (N.D. Cal.) -- Intervenor
    • DOT's regulations satisfy the ADA and are not arbitrary and capricious

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Intervenor[PDF] 08/24/06
    District Court Decision 03/20/07
  • Disability Rights Council v. WMATA (D.D.C.) -- Intervenor
    • This court should not reach this issue
    • Title II is valid Fourteenth Amendment legislation as applied to the context of public transportation

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 07/17/06
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF], reported at 239 F.R.D. 9 12/09/06
  • Prye v. Blunt (W.D. Mo.) -- Intervenor
    • This court should not reach the constitutionality of Title II unless necessary
    • Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act is valid Section 5 legislation as applied to voting

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 06/15/06
  • Jones v. Gale (8th Cir.) -- Amicus
    • This court has held that private plaintiffs may enforce the requirements of Title II of the ADA through Ex Parte Young suits

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Amicus [PDF] 05/25/06
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF], reported at 470 F.3d 1261 12/13/06
  • Spencer v. Earley (E.D. Va.) -- Intervenor
    • Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act is valid Section 5 legislation as applied to prison administration
    • As the Fourth Circuit has held, state agencies validly waive their Eleventh Amendment immunity to claims under Section 504 when they accept federal financial assistance

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 04/14/06
    District Court Decision 01/30/07
  • Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. v. City of Milwaukee (7th Cir.) -- Amicus
    • Does 28 C.F.R. 35.130(b)(7) or 28 C.F.R. 41.53 apply to disputes about zoning in suits under the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act?
    • Do 28 C.F.R. 35.130(b)(7) and 28 C.F.R. 41.53, if applicable to zoning disputes, create an entitlement to accomodation in the absence of intentional discrimination or disparate impact?
    • If the answer to Questions 1 and 2 is yes, are the regulations valid?

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Amicus on Rehearing En Banc [PDF] 11/23/05
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF], reported at 465 F.3d 737 09/26/06
  • Randolph v. Texas Rehabilitation Commission (5th Cir.) -- Intervenor
    • This en banc court has held that a state agency waives its Eleventh Amendment immunity to claims under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act when it accepts federal financial assistance

     
    Document Date 
    Brief as Intervenor [PDF] 10/11/05
    Court of Appeals Decision [PDF] (unpublished), available at 214 Fed. Appx. 424 01/18/07


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Affirmative Action
Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504of the Rehabilitation Act
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act
Constitutionality of Federal Statutes
Criminal
Education
Employment Discrimination (Race, National Origin, Sex,and Religion)
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act
Housing
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Religion Cases
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
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Updated April 6, 2009