University of Michigan Law School
Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
HOME
ABOUT
FOR TEACHERS
SEARCH
QUESTIONS
RECENT ADDITIONS
feedback/
suggestions
log in/
register
Case Profile
new search
page permalink
Case Name
DOJ v. Amtrak
DR-DC-0009
Docket / Court
1:20-cv-3503 ( D.D.C. )
State/Territory
District of Columbia
Case Type(s)
Disability Rights-Pub. Accom.
Case Summary
On December 2, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint against the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (“Amtrak”) for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12165, by failing to make its intercity rail stations accessible to ...
read more >
On December 2, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint against the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (“Amtrak”) for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12165, by failing to make its intercity rail stations accessible to individuals with disabilities by July 26, 2020, as required by the Act. The government sought to enjoin Amtrak from discriminating on the basis of disability and require the company to comply with the ADA. The government also sought compensatory damages for disabled individuals who had been harmed by Amtrak’s inaccessible stations. The case was not docketed or assigned to a judge, however, because the government reached a settlement with Amtrak on the same day it filed its complaint.
The settlement agreement required Amtrak to design at least 135 accessible stations, finish construction at 90 stations, and be in the process of constructing at least 45 stations within 10 years of the settlement date. The agreement also required Amtrak to train staff on ADA compliance and to establish a monitor-approved process for managing ADA complaints. Pursuant to these obligations, Amtrak created the Office of the Vice President of Stations, Properties, and Accessibility. Amtrak also created a $2.25 million settlement fund to compensate mobility-impaired individuals who traveled or attempted to travel at Amtrak’s 78 most inaccessible stations. The settlement was monitored by the Federal Railroad Administration and the Department of Justice.
Becca Rogers - 12/24/2020
compress summary
- click to show/hide ALL -
Issues and Causes of Action
click to show/hide detail
Issues
Defendant-type
Transportation
Disability
Mobility impairment
Discrimination-basis
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
General
Access to public accommodations - governmental
Reasonable Accommodations
Reasonable Modifications
Transportation
Plaintiff Type
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Causes of Action
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Case Details
click to show/hide detail
Defendant(s)
The National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak)
Plaintiff Description
Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
No
Nature of Relief
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Settlement
Form of Settlement
Private Settlement Agreement
Filed
12/02/2020
Case Ongoing
Yes
Additional Resources
click to show/hide detail
See this case
at CourtListener.com
(May provide additional documents and, for active cases, real-time alerts)
Documents
click to show/hide detail
Court
Docket(s)
D.D.C.
12/03/2020
1:20-cv-03503-UNA
DR-DC-0009-9000.pdf
|
Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
General Documents
D.D.C.
12/02/2020
Complaint
DR-DC-0009-0001.pdf
|
Detail
D.D.C.
12/02/2020
Settlement Agreement Between the United States of America and National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak")
DR-DC-0009-0002.pdf
|
Detail
People
click to show/hide detail
show all people docs
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Bond, Rebecca B.
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
Dreiband, Eric S.
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
Kijewski, Kevin J.
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
Knight, David W.
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
McKnight, Cynthia M.
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
Sadler, Felicia L.
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
Sherwin, Michael R.
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
Truong, John Cuong
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
Van Horn, Daniel F
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
Wolfe, Kathleen P.
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
DR-DC-0009-0001
- click to show/hide ALL -
new search
page permalink
- top of page -
Contact
Report an Error
Privacy Policy