Filed Date: Sept. 7, 2016
Closed Date: March 13, 2020
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On September 7, 2016, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The DOJ sued Humboldt County under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) alleging that Humboldt County discriminated against individuals with disabilities by failing to make County facilities, programs, services, and activities accessible. Previously in 2005, the DOJ reviewed Humboldt County’s with Title II of the ADA in 2005 and identified over 200 violations of ADA standards in newly constructed or altered facilities and over 900 barriers to access in County programs, services, and activities.
Following the review, the DOJ and the County entered a Project Civic Access agreement requiring the County to take specific actions to become compliant with the ADA. The DOJ alleged that Humboldt County failed to take the required actions and, in response, filed this lawsuit. The DOJ sought declaratory relief, an injunction preventing Humboldt County from failing to comply with the ADA and requiring employee training on the requirements of the ADA, and compensatory damages.
Immediately, the DOJ filed a proposed consent decree. On September 13, 2016, Judge Nandor J. Vadas approved and entered the consent decree. Under the consent decree, Humboldt County agreed to bring its facilities, programs, services, and activities into compliance with the ADA and make the county more accessible to individuals with disabilities within three and a half years. Humboldt County agreed to take a wide array of steps to reach compliance, including:
Summary Authors
Emily Kempa (2/3/2021)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4558160/parties/united-states-v-humboldt-county/
Becker, Grace Chung (District of Columbia)
Bond, Rebecca B. (District of Columbia)
Gupta, Vanita (District of Columbia)
Hill, Eve L. (District of Columbia)
Angus, Mary Blair (California)
Vadas, Nandor J. (California)
Becker, Grace Chung (District of Columbia)
Bond, Rebecca B. (District of Columbia)
Gupta, Vanita (District of Columbia)
Hill, Eve L. (District of Columbia)
Kijewski, Kevin J. (District of Columbia)
Lutzker, Dov (District of Columbia)
Proctor, Melanie L. (California)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4558160/united-states-v-humboldt-county/
Last updated April 24, 2024, 3:10 a.m.
State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 7, 2016
Closing Date: March 13, 2020
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
U.S. Department of Justice.
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Humboldt County (Humboldt County, Humboldt), County
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Amount Defendant Pays: $275,000
Order Duration: 2016 - 2020
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General:
Access to public accommodations - governmental
Disability and Disability Rights:
Environmental Justice and Resources:
Discrimination-basis:
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
Type of Facility: