Disability

Family of Autistic Teen Victor Perez Sues Idaho Police, Alleges Violations of Disability Rights After Deadly Shooting

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Pocatello, Idaho — The family of Victor Perez, a 17-year-old with autism who was fatally shot by police earlier this year, has filed a lawsuit against the Pocatello Police Department. Their claims center on allegations that officers failed to adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) during the interaction that led to Perez’s death. On April 5, 2023, officers responded to a call from a neighbor who reported a violent situation involving Perez, who was holding a knife. Despite previous encounters with law enforcement regarding Perez’s behavioral challenges and documented disabilities, officers arrived with … Read more

Federal Jury Awards Veteran Over $400K in Landmark Disability Discrimination Case Against Florida Senior Living Facility

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A federal jury has granted a veteran $405,083 in a landmark disability discrimination case involving a local senior living facility. The decision was announced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which had initially pursued the case against The Princess Martha and its managing companies. The lawsuit stemmed from allegations that The Princess Martha, which is operated by TJM Property Management and TJM Properties Inc., failed to comply with federal disability accommodation laws. According to the EEOC, the facility denied reasonable accommodations to an applicant who identified herself as a … Read more

Disability Rights Championed: States Withdraw Attack on Key Legislation, But Challenges Persist

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Texas — Seventeen states, led by Texas, have decided not to challenge the constitutionality of a significant disability rights law, although advocates warn that the legal battle is far from over. Earlier this year, the states sought to invalidate Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a pivotal statute that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any program receiving federal funding. Originally enacted in 1973, Section 504 covers a wide array of sectors, impacting health care, education, housing, and transportation. Disability rights advocates fiercely opposed this lawsuit, emphasizing that a successful challenge could also jeopardize … Read more

Jury Awards Over $1 Million to Former Dartmouth Hitchcock Doctor for Disability Discrimination

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BURLINGTON, Vt. — A recent verdict from a U.S. District Court jury concluded that Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center wrongfully terminated a former fertility doctor on discriminatory grounds. Dr. Misty Blanchette Porter, once employed at DHMC, was awarded $1.125 million in damages for her 2017 firing which violated Vermont’s laws against disability discrimination. The compensation breakdown for Blanchette Porter includes $1 million for economic damages, including lost wages and additional expenses related to her lost employment. An additional $125,000 was awarded for non-economic injuries, acknowledging her mental distress and loss of life enjoyment stemming from the … Read more