Case: University of California San Francisco Medical Center Settlement Agreement

Not applicable | No Court

Filed Date: 2008

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

A dispute arose between August Longo, a disability rights activist, and the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, as to whether UCSF provided him and other persons with disabilities sufficient access to the premises, patient care facilities, equipment, programs, and services of UCSF Medical Center as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12132, et seq. and Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §§ 701 et seq.On…

A dispute arose between August Longo, a disability rights activist, and the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, as to whether UCSF provided him and other persons with disabilities sufficient access to the premises, patient care facilities, equipment, programs, and services of UCSF Medical Center as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12132, et seq. and Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §§ 701 et seq.

On May 18, 2001, the parties entered a settlement agreement, through an out-of-court structured negotiations process. In this agreement, the Medical Center agreed to implement a comprehensive program improving accessibility for disabled patients. It began a review of its facilities, policies, and procedures, agreeing to make accessibility modifications where needed, and agreeing to develop a five-year plan to accomplish these modifications. The Medical Center agreed to evaluate the availability of accessible medical equipment in patient care facilities, its patient registration systems, and its policies for effectively communicating with patients and visitors who are blind and who have other disabilities. The Medical Center also modified its in-patient bathrooms to make them wheelchair accessible.

To aid it in complying with the settlement, the Medical Center agreed to appoint by March 15, 2008, an internal ADA access oversight body, the UCSF Internal Oversight Committee, to act as liaison between the parties, and to monitor and report on the Medical Center's progress. The Medical Center also hired the Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions, a group of experts in the effective delivery of health and medical services to people with disabilities.

The settlement contained terms relating to attorneys' fees and compensation for the claimant, and a release and waiver, which were not disclosed to the public. The Medical Center did not admit liability under the ADA or to any wrongdoing.

Summary Authors

Alex Colbert-Taylor (6/14/2013)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Dardarian, Linda M. (California)

Feingold, Lainey [Elaine] (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Settlement Agreement

UCSF Medical Center Settlement Agreement

May 18, 2008

May 18, 2008

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:33 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

Key Dates

Filing Date: 2008

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

An individual disability rights activist and wheelchair user, on behalf of himself and other disabled people.

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

Regents of the University of California, State

Defendant Type(s):

College/University

Hospital/Health Department

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):

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

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Order Duration: 2005 - 2010

Content of Injunction:

Reasonable Accommodation

Discrimination Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Recordkeeping

Monitoring

Goals (e.g., for hiring, admissions)

Issues

General:

Access to public accommodations - governmental

Bathrooms

Government services

School/University Facilities

School/University policies

Disability and Disability Rights:

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable Modifications

disability, unspecified

Mobility impairment

Visual impairment

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Impact

Discrimination-basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Medical care, unspecified

Type of Facility:

Government-run