Case: Lackawanna County ADA Investigation

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Case Summary

A deaf inmate filed a complaint with the United States Department of Justice against the Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Sheriff's Department under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), alleging that the Sheriff's Department failed to provide him with a telecommunications device for the deaf ("TTD") upon his request while he was incarcerated in the Lackawanna County Jail. Following a Department of Justice investigation, the United States and the Lackawanna County Sheriff's …

A deaf inmate filed a complaint with the United States Department of Justice against the Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Sheriff's Department under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), alleging that the Sheriff's Department failed to provide him with a telecommunications device for the deaf ("TTD") upon his request while he was incarcerated in the Lackawanna County Jail. Following a Department of Justice investigation, the United States and the Lackawanna County Sheriff's Department entered into a settlement agreement on January 25, 1996, in which the Sheriff's Department agreed to purchase at least two TTD's for the Jail within one month and to adopt and follow certain procedures to ensure that telephone communications for the hearing impaired are as readily available as telephone communications for others. These procedures include placing appropriate signage near telephones to indicate the availability of TTD's; providing opportunities for prisoners to request any necessary auxiliary services or aids, and giving primary consideration to such requests; and adopting policies and procedures in respect to securing interpreters for the hearing impaired whenever necessary. We have no information other than the settlement agreement between the parties.

Summary Authors

Megan Raynor (3/6/2006)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Perley, Sharon N. (District of Columbia)

Wolfson, Robb (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

O'Brien, Joseph (Pennsylvania)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Settlement Agreement Between U.S. and the Lackawanna County Sheriff's Department, Lackawanna County, Penn.

Jan. 25, 1996

Jan. 25, 1996

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:39 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Pennsylvania

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Disability Rights

Special Collection(s):

Deaf or Blind in Jail/Prison

Key Dates

Case Ongoing: Perhaps, but long-dormant

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States 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: Unknown

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Lackawanna County (Lackawanna), County

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

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

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Order Duration: 1996 - None

Issues

General:

Phone

Disability and Disability Rights:

Hearing impairment

Discrimination-basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)

Type of Facility:

Government-run