Class Action Lawsuit Against California for Handicap Accessibility in Settlement

posted on Dec 28 by Stacy in the Disability Law, Disability News, Wheelchair Accessibility category

A 2006 class action lawsuit filed by Californians for Disability Rights Inc, the California Council for the Blind on behalf of two disabled Californians has reached a proposed settlement, and is awaiting review by a federal judge and the U. S. Dept of Justice. The state of California has agreed to spend $1.1 billion over the next 30 years to repair and improve roughly 2,500 miles of state owned sidewalks and crosswalks as well as 300 park-and-ride facilities so they are handicap accessible. In the proposed settlement the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will also be required to put in curb ramps whenever it resurfaces highways that run through city streets. Governor Schwarzenegger commented by saying: “This settlement is a win-win, It would be inexcusable to continue to delay these modifications. Instead of debating this through the legal process for the next decade, costing millions of taxpayer dollars, we are taking action to get this work completed.”

More here: California settles major disability access lawsuit