Case: United States v. District of Columbia

No Court

Filed Date: 2008

Closed Date: 2013

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This settlement was reached on December 10, 2008, without litigation, between the United States of America and the District of Columbia. It is the result of an Attorney General investigation of the accessibility of the D.C. homeless shelter program. Included in the settlement is D.C.'s agreement to provide an ADA coordinator to facilitate compliance. The agreement requires development of a comprehensive plan to accomplish retrofitting and barrier removal, equivalent rules and regulations for di…

This settlement was reached on December 10, 2008, without litigation, between the United States of America and the District of Columbia. It is the result of an Attorney General investigation of the accessibility of the D.C. homeless shelter program.

Included in the settlement is D.C.'s agreement to provide an ADA coordinator to facilitate compliance. The agreement requires development of a comprehensive plan to accomplish retrofitting and barrier removal, equivalent rules and regulations for disabled and non-disabled residents, a reasonable modification policy, recordkeeping and reporting, training of staff, provision of auxiliary aids, accessible transportation, and appropriate oversight of the activities of anyone acting as a "private contractor."

The agreement was to remain in effect for three years from the effective date (December 12, 2008) unless retrofits have not been completed within those years, in which case, the agreement was to last five years as to the shelters affected.

On January 31, 2011, in accordance with Paragraph 20(i) of the settlement, the District of Columbia provided the Second Revised Comprehensive Physical Access Plan for the shelters. The plan included homeless shelter programs, non-shelter services and programs, and modifications to shelter facilities to meet comprehensive plan goals.

The case is closed.

Summary Authors

Denise Heberle (8/24/2012)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Becker, Grace Chung (District of Columbia)

Booth, David M. (District of Columbia)

Breen, Philip L. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Efros, Ellen A. (District of Columbia)

Nickles, Peter J. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Settlement Agreement

Dec. 10, 2008

Dec. 10, 2008

Settlement Agreement

Press Release: Justice Department Reaches Settlement with District of Columbia Over City's Homeless Shelter Program

Dec. 12, 2008

Dec. 12, 2008

Press Release

Second Revised Comprehensive Physical Access Plan

Jan. 31, 2011

Jan. 31, 2011

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:28 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

Key Dates

Filing Date: 2008

Closing Date: 2013

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

No plaintiff because this is not a court case. The Attorney General investigated Washington D.C.'s homeless shelter program and reached a settlement with the city.

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

District of Columbia (District of Columbia), Regional

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Order Duration: 2008 - 2013

Content of Injunction:

Reasonable Accommodation

Discrimination Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Recordkeeping

Monitoring

Goals (e.g., for hiring, admissions)

Issues

General:

Access to public accommodations - governmental

Barrier Removal

Bathing and hygiene

Bathrooms

Buildings

Emergency shelter

Failure to train

Phone

Placement in shelters

Record-keeping

Records Disclosure

Disability and Disability Rights:

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable Modifications

disability, unspecified

Discrimination-basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)

Type of Facility:

Government-run