Filed Date: Nov. 13, 2020
Closed Date: June 23, 2021
Clearinghouse coding complete
On November 21, 2018, the plaintiff, a deaf woman, was arrested by the Anderson Police Department and transported to the Madison County Jail. The plaintiff was handcuffed behind her back while she was detained, preventing her from communicating using American Sign Language (ASL). Her requests for an interpreter were ignored and she was not provided with access to a qualified interpreter or other functional auxiliary aids (at one point, she was given a teletypewriter (TTY) but the facility lacked the equipment necessary for it to function). Medical staff also injected her with an unknown vaccination during the medical intake process. On November 13, 2020, the plaintiff, represented by Indiana Disability Rights (IDR), the state protection and advocacy entity, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana against Madison County, the Madison County Sheriff's Department, the Madison County Commissioner’s Office, and Madison County Council. The complaint alleged violations of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and various tort claims under state law. The plaintiff sought a declaration that her rights were violated, monetary relief, and attorneys’ fees. The case was assigned to Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
The parties entered into settlement discussions with the county’s insurance carrier in the early stages of discovery. On April 1, 2021, the parties informed the court that a preliminary settlement agreement had been reached. The Clearinghouse was unable to obtain a copy of the settlement agreement, however, local news reported that the County approved a payment of $9,500 to the plaintiff. The case was dismissed on June 22, 2021.
Summary Authors
Hannah Juge (7/3/2022)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18628607/parties/ray-v-madison-county/
Pratt, Tanya Walton (Indiana)
Gray, Nikki (Indiana)
Hinkle, Matthew (Indiana)
Maurovich, John (Indiana)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18628607/ray-v-madison-county/
Last updated April 1, 2026, 5:25 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 13, 2020
Closing Date: June 23, 2021
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A deaf woman who was arrested by the Anderson Police Department and incarcerated at the Madison County Jail
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
County
Madison County
Madison County
Defendant Type(s):
Facility 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
Other Dockets:
Southern District of Indiana 1:20-cv-02973
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Amount Defendant Pays: 9500
Issues
General/Misc.:
Disability and Disability Rights:
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
Case Summary of Ray v. Madison Co., Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/18401/ (last updated 7/3/2022).