Disabled

California Jury Awards $7.4 Million to Disabled Professor After 7-Year Battle for Accessible Housing

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Los Angeles, CA – A federal jury awarded Dr. Emma Adams, a paraplegic and Southern California college professor, $7.4 million in damages for violations of the Fair Housing Act by AQUA 388 Community Association, AQUA Maintenance Corporation, and FirstService Residential California LLC. The verdict, reached on December 19, 2024, includes $7 million in compensatory damages and $400,000 in punitive damages. Dr. Adams, who utilizes a powered wheelchair for mobility, faced significant challenges after purchasing a condominium at the AQUA towers in Long Beach, which consist of 556 units and nearly a thousand parking spaces. Despite … Read more

Colorado Commits to Expanding Independence for Disabled Citizens with Landmark Settlement

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Denver, Colo. – Colorado has reached a settlement involving more inclusive treatment for thousands of its residents with physical disabilities, addressing previous practices that confined many to nursing homes when not strictly necessary. This agreement resolves allegations that state health officials were non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by maintaining such restrictive environments for disabled individuals. The settlement, announced by the U.S. Department of Justice, mandates significant reforms to promote greater independence and integration for people with disabilities, adhering to ADA’s principle of ensuring that services are provided in the least restrictive and … Read more

New Voting Laws Pose Challenges for Disabled Voters, Risking Millions of Votes in Upcoming 2024 Election

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New Orleans, LA — Amidst rising concerns over election security, a series of new laws in Louisiana and other states aimed at safeguarding the integrity of upcoming elections are paradoxically making it harder for more than 40.2 million American voters with disabilities to exercise their right to vote. These laws, enacted in response to unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, restrict assistance for mail-in voting—a crucial method for many voters with disabilities. The legislative changes include limiting the type of help voters with disabilities can receive, such as assistance from … Read more

$23.87 Million Verdict in Pennsylvania: Jury Awards Record Sum After Botched Spinal Surgery Leaves Man Disabled

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York, PA — In a striking medical malpractice case, a Pennsylvania jury has awarded nearly $24 million to a man who suffered severe spinal injuries due to a surgical error at WellSpan York Hospital. James Spangler, a former mechanic, underwent spinal surgery in October 2019 that left him with life-altering disabilities when a screw was mistakenly inserted into his spinal cord. During the procedure intended to alleviate spinal stenosis, neurosurgeon Joseph Krzeminski, MD, failed to adjust the operation even after an intraoperative monitoring system flagged the error. Spangler, 58, awoke with significant impairments, prompting decades … Read more