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Case Name
Day v. District of Columbia
PB-DC-0004
Docket / Court
1:10-cv-2250 ( D.D.C. )
State/Territory
District of Columbia
Case Type(s)
Disability Rights-Pub. Accom.
Nursing Home Conditions
Public Benefits / Government Services
Special Collection
Olmstead Cases
Post-WalMart decisions on class certification
Attorney Organization
NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations
Case Summary
The plaintiffs, institutionalized individuals in the District of Columbia with disabilities, filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on December 23, 2010. The complaint alleged that the District of Columbia has policies and procedures that force the unnecessary ...
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The plaintiffs, institutionalized individuals in the District of Columbia with disabilities, filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on December 23, 2010. The complaint alleged that the District of Columbia has policies and procedures that force the unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities who could live in the community with appropriate services. The plaintiffs claimed that these policies, which erect barriers to receiving long-term care and arbitrarily restrict the availability of community-based services, violate the Americans with Disabilities Act's integration mandate (under the precedent of Olmstead v. L.C.) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The plaintiffs filed this complaint in response to the failure of D.C. to develop and implement a working Olmstead plan.
On April 27, 2011, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment. The defendants claimed that D.C.'s policies were adequate to prevent unnecessary institutionalization and that none of the plaintiffs had demonstrated that his or her institutionalization was a result of the District's policies or that he or she could live in the community. The United States (Department of Justice) filed a brief siding with the plaintiffs on October 3, 2011.
On February 14, 2010, Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle issued an opinion denying, for the most part, the defendant's summary judgment motion. Judge Huvelle agreed to dismiss the individual defendant officials from the case, noting that the claims against them were duplicative of those against the District. But, Judge Huvelle denied the defendants' motion on the substantive claims, finding that the District had no effective plan in place to prevent unnecessary institutionalization. In April 2012, the District of Columbia announced a new Olmstead community integration plan.
In March of 2013, the plaintiffs filed their third amended complaint without the named parties. The defendants immediately filed a motion to dismiss. On March 28, 2013, Judge Huvelle granted the plaintiff's class certification as well as denied defendant's motion to dismiss. This prompted renewed litigation in conjunction, including a request for interlocutory appeal on the class certification. The defendants also filed a motion to stay pending the request for interlocutory appeal, and this motion was ultimately denied.
In September of 2015, following months of discovery, the plaintiffs filed a fourth amended complaint, and the defendants filed a final motion to dismiss. This motion was again denied.
After trial before Judge Huvelle, the defendants moved for judgment as a matter of law on October 6, 2016. On September 13, 2017, however, Judge Huvelle found that plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate the existence of a concrete, systemic failure that entitled them to class-wide relief and dismissed their class-wide claims. More specifically, Judge Huvelle found that there were both systemic and individualized barriers to transitioning that were beyond the control of the defendants, so a single injunction could not remedy the plaintiffs’ institutionalization.
As the plaintiffs had not sought individual relief, Judge Huvelle entered judgment for the defendants and denied the defendants' motion for judgment as a matter of law as moot.
On October 18, 2017, the plaintiffs appealed Judge Huvelle's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. On July 5, 2019, a D.C. Circuit panel composed of Judges Karen L. Henderson and Robert L. Wilkins with Senior District Judge Harry T. Edwards reversed and remanded Judge Huvelle's decision. They stated that the state has the burden of proof in showing that the access plans it has in place are sufficient under Olmstead, and that the District Court erred when it focused on the sufficiency of the plaintiff's complaint, not the robustness of the State's plan. 928 F.3d 1070.
The case returned to the District Court for further proceedings; discovery is ongoing.
Beth Kurtz - 02/08/2013
Megan Brown - 10/27/2016
Eva Richardson - 11/03/2018
Ellen Aldin - 06/07/2020
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Benefit Source
Medicaid
Defendant-type
Hospital/Health Department
Jurisdiction-wide
Disability
disability, unspecified
Integrated setting
Least restrictive environment
Mental impairment
Discrimination-basis
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
General
Deinstitutionalization/decarceration
Individualized planning
Pattern or Practice
Placement in mental health facilities
Public benefits (includes, e.g., in-state tuition, govt. jobs)
Reasonable Accommodations
Medical/Mental Health
Intellectual/Developmental Disability
Mental health care, general
Mental health care, unspecified
Mental Disability
Developmental disability without intellectual disability
Intellectual/developmental disability, unspecified
Mental Illness, Unspecified
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Causes of Action
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance
District of Columbia Department of Mental Health
Plaintiff Description
Plaintiffs are a class of institutionalized individuals with disabilities in the District of Columbia.
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations
Class action status sought
Yes
Class action status granted
Yes
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
None Yet / None
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
None yet
Source of Relief
None yet
Filed
12/23/2010
Case Ongoing
Yes
Additional Resources
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Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
D.D.C.
06/05/2020
1:01−cv−00887
PB-DC-0004-9000.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
General Documents
D.D.C.
12/23/2010
Class Action Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief [ECF# 1]
PB-DC-0004-0005.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
03/30/2011
First Amended Class Action Complaint for Declaratory and injunctive Relief [ECF# 17]
PB-DC-0004-0004.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
04/27/2011
Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [ECF# 19]
PB-DC-0004-0007.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
09/01/2011
Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [ECF# 28]
PB-DC-0004-0008.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
10/03/2011
Statement of interest of the United States of America [ECF# 32]
PB-DC-0004-0006.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
02/14/2012
Memorandum Opinion [ECF# 41]
(894 F.Supp.2d 1)
PB-DC-0004-0003.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Westlaw
D.D.C.
02/14/2012
Order [Granting in Part and Denying in Part Motion to Dismiss] [ECF# 42]
PB-DC-0004-0010.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
04/02/2012
Second Amended Complaint [ECF# 46]
PB-DC-0004-0011.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
04/06/2012
Notice of Filing of Olmstead Community Integration Initiative [ECF# 48]
PB-DC-0004-0002.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
05/15/2012
Memorandum in Support of Class Certification [ECF# 54-1]
PB-DC-0004-0009.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
01/09/2013
Memorandum Opinion and Order [Denying Motions to Dismiss Claims] [ECF# 85]
(916 F.Supp.2d 65)
PB-DC-0004-0012.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Westlaw
D.D.C.
03/29/2014
Memorandum Opinion [ECF# 128]
(303 F.R.D. 120)
PB-DC-0004-0013.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
08/08/2014
Memorandum Opinion and Order [ECF# 145]
(306 F.R.D. 6)
PB-DC-0004-0015.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
09/10/2015
Fourth Amendment Class Action Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief [ECF# 162]
PB-DC-0004-0014.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
D.D.C.
09/13/2017
Memorandum Opinion [ECF# 257]
(322 F.R.D. 51)
PB-DC-0004-0016.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
U.S. Court of Appeals
07/05/2019
Opinion [Ct. of App. ECF# 59]
(928 F.3d 1070)
PB-DC-0004-0017.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
People
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Judges
Henderson, Karen LeCraft
(D.S.C., D.C. Circuit)
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PB-DC-0004-0017
Huvelle, Ellen Segal
(D.D.C.)
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PB-DC-0004-0003 | PB-DC-0004-0010 | PB-DC-0004-0012 | PB-DC-0004-0013 | PB-DC-0004-0015 | PB-DC-0004-0016 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Kay, Alan
(D.D.C.) [Magistrate]
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Wilkins, Robert Leon
(D.D.C., D.C. Circuit)
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PB-DC-0004-0017
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Andersen, Alison L.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0014 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Bagby, Kelly R.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0004 | PB-DC-0004-0005 | PB-DC-0004-0008 | PB-DC-0004-0009 | PB-DC-0004-0011 | PB-DC-0004-0014 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Canan, Stacy
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Gadd, Martha Geron
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Gluckman, Todd A.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Gonzalez, Iris Y.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0014 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Gyamfi, Maame
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Huang, Michael L
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Lav, Jennifer Rachel
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0004 | PB-DC-0004-0005 | PB-DC-0004-0008 | PB-DC-0004-0009 | PB-DC-0004-0011 | PB-DC-0004-0014 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Majewski, Kristina
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0014 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Millian, Kathleen
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Niles, Lyndsay Ayanna
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0014 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Patrick, Bradford Collins
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Rifkin, Marjorie Lynn
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0004 | PB-DC-0004-0005 | PB-DC-0004-0008 | PB-DC-0004-0009 | PB-DC-0004-0011 | PB-DC-0004-0014 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Schneider, Brian D.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0004 | PB-DC-0004-0005 | PB-DC-0004-0008 | PB-DC-0004-0009 | PB-DC-0004-0011 | PB-DC-0004-0014 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Sheldon, Patrick A.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Strickland, Andrew Braxton
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Thomas, Victoria L
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0008 | PB-DC-0004-0009 | PB-DC-0004-0011 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Vignery, Bruce
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0004 | PB-DC-0004-0005 | PB-DC-0004-0008 | PB-DC-0004-0009 | PB-DC-0004-0011 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Wahl, Barbara S.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0004 | PB-DC-0004-0005 | PB-DC-0004-0008 | PB-DC-0004-0009 | PB-DC-0004-0011 | PB-DC-0004-0014 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Defendant's Lawyers
Baker, Melissa Lael
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0007 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Copeland, Chad Wayne
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Disney, Pamela
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Efros, Ellen A.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0002 | PB-DC-0004-0007
Graham, Grace
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0002
Jackson, Toni Michelle
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
JOnes, Shermineh C.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Kennedy, Scott Patrick
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Montee, Amanda
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Naso, Chad Alan
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0002 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Nathan, Irvin B
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0007
Patrick, Bradford Collins
(New York)
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PB-DC-0004-0002
Risher, Conrad Z.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Sulkowski, Sarah Ann
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0007 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Valentine, George C.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0007
Other Lawyers
Barkoff, Alison
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0006
Contreras, Rudolph
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0006
Hair, Christopher Charles
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Machen, Ronald C
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0006
Nichol, Allison
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0006
Perez, Thomas E.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0006
Rosen, David Adam
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-9000
Rush, Regan
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0006
Welan, Joy Levin
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0006 | PB-DC-0004-9000
Wohlenhaus, Renee M.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0006
Wolfe, Kathleen P.
(District of Columbia)
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PB-DC-0004-0006
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