Case: Citizens Bank

Not applicable | No Court

Filed Date: 2001

Closed Date: 2005

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In October 2001, the Bay State Council of the Blind and Citizens Bank entered a settlement agreement concerning the accessibility of ATMs for blind users. The parties reached the settlement through a process of structured negotiations, rather than litigating the issue in court.In the settlement agreement, Citizens Bank agreed to offer more than 450 "talking" ATMs, installing at least one at each of its branches throughout the New England region by the end of 2005. These ATMs support the use of an audio headset, making them accessible to blind and visually impaired patrons. At the time of the settlement, Citizens Bank had a total of more than 1400 ATMs throughout the Northeastern United States.The Clearinghouse does not have the full text of the settlement.

Summary Authors

Alex Colbert-Taylor (6/14/2013)

Clearinghouse (6/23/2013)

People

Attorney for Plaintiff

Dardarian, Linda M. (California)

Eichner, Stanley J. (Missouri)

Feingold, Lainey [Elaine] (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Citizens Bank Press Release

Oct. 4, 2001

Oct. 4, 2001

Press Release

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:27 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

Key Dates

Filing Date: 2001

Closing Date: 2005

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Bay State Council for the Blind

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Law Office of Lainey Feingold

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (Providence), Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

Bank or credit provider

Facility Type(s):

Non-government for-profit

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Content of Injunction:

Reasonable Accommodation

Order Duration: 2001 - 2005

Issues

General/Misc.:

Access to public accommodations - privately owned

Disability and Disability Rights:

ATM Machines

Screen readers and similar accessibility devices

Visual impairment

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Impact

Discrimination Basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)