On February 4, 1997, disabled prisoners of the District of Columbia filed a class action lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12101, and the Rehabilitation Act (RA), 29 U.S.C. § 701, against the District of Columbia in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiffs, represented by the D.C. Prisoners' Legal Services Project, Open Society Institute and Public Justice Center, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by the denial of access to educational programs, religious programs, rehabilitation, and visitation.

On August 23, 1997, the parties entered into a settlement agreement, which provided for a change in the policies and practices of the facilities regarding disabled prisoners, renovation of the facilities, and relocation of programs to places that were more accessible to wheelchairs. On August 29, 1997, the district court (Judge Paul L. Friedman) granted preliminary approval to the settlement. On March 17, 1998, the district court (Judge Friedman) granted final approval to the settlement agreement and entered it in court as a consent decree.

On May 26, 1998, the district court (Judge Friedman) granted the plaintiffs attorneys fees and costs in the amount of $61,000. On December 23, 1998, the court granted the plaintiffs another $5,875.50 in attorneys fees. This is where our docket, which is accurate as of 06/16/2005, ends. We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.

Kristen Sagar - 09/25/2006


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