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Project Civic Access is an initiative of the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (DOJ), the purpose of which is to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in civic life and have full access to government services and facilities, as required by Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134, and its implementing regulations.
As part of Project Civic Access, DOJ attorneys and investigators carry out compliance reviews investigating cities and local governments to determine their degree of success in meeting their obligations under Title II of the ADA. After conducting these reviews, the DOJ negotiates out-of-court settlements requiring these local governments to come into compliance with their ADA obligations within a specified time. The DOJ is specifically authorized to conduct compliance investigations and to negotiate settlements with local governments under the ADA and the Department's implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 35.
This out-of-court settlement between the City of Atlanta, GA and the US DOJ, entered in December 2009, was the 174th such agreement reached as a result of Project Civic Access. Prior to the settlement, the DOJ conducted an extensive compliance review, investigating all government facilities constructed or altered after January 26, 1992, the accessibility of services and programs offered at these and other government facilities, and the accessibility of the City's policies and procedures regarding voting, emergency management and disaster prevention, and sidewalk maintenance.
As summarized in the DOJ's press release, this settlement required the City of Atlanta to:
The Settlement also required the City to come into compliance with Title I of the ADA, requiring that it not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of disability, and that it make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability upon request unless the accommodation would cause an undue hardship on the operation of the City's business.
The settlement agreement was to remain in place for three years, or until both the City and the DOJ agree that all actions required by the Agreement have been completed, whichever is later. It is not clear whether the agreement expired on December 8, 2012, some later date, or whether it is still in place. Violations of the agreement could result in the DOJ initiating enforcement litigation against the City of Atlanta.
The Clearinghouse includes a representative sample of other Project Civic Access settlements as well, see related cases below.
Summary Authors
Alex Colbert-Taylor (11/7/2014)
Milton, Naomi (District of Columbia)
Perez, Thomas E. (District of Columbia)
Wodatch, John L. (District of Columbia)
Worden, Jeanine M (District of Columbia)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:32 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Georgia
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: Perhaps, but long-dormant
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
This is a settlement that resulted from a US Department of Justice compliance review conducted to investigate the City of Atlanta's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The settlement was negotiated between the DOJ and the City of Atlanta, GA without the filing of a lawsuit.
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
City of Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta, Fulton), City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Order Duration: 2009 - 2012
Content of Injunction:
Goals (e.g., for hiring, admissions)
Issues
General:
Access to public accommodations - governmental
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
TTY/Close Captioning/Videophone/etc.
Disability and Disability Rights:
Developmental disability without intellectual disability
Intellectual/developmental disability, unspecified
Discrimination-area:
Discrimination-basis:
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
Type of Facility: