On April 16, 2002, plaintiffs, Santa Cruz residents who suffered various forms of blindness, filed a complaint against the state transit agency in the United States District Court for the District of Northern California for violations of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12131, et seq.; (2) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701, et seq. and various state laws. Plaintiffs sought injunctive and monetary relief.

Plaintiffs claim that the defendant failed to implement systems to announce at which stop a bus was stopping and, for individuals waiting at a bus stop, to announce which bus had arrived. Thus, the plaintiffs alleged they had missed stops and taken the wrong bus. The plaintiffs alleged the defendant had been aware of its inaccessible bus system since at least 1989 and that bus drivers were not helpful and lacked training.

On July 11, 2003, the parties entered into a settlement agreement and filed it with the court. The defendant agreed to install "talking technology" equipment to announce bus stops, ensure discipline of drivers who did not comply with the changes, and pay for an outside agency to monitor compliance by riding buses for at least 100 hours per quarter. The agreement was to last two years from the date on which the last bus was fitted with the talking technology. The defendant also agreed to pay $5000 to each plaintiff and $135,000 in attorneys' fees and costs.

On July 22, 2003, the court dismissed the case by stipulation. The case is now closed.

Eric Weiler - 05/27/2010


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