I thought some of you might find this interesting. It's a press release on the Rochester Para transit suit for next day service. WE finally win a small one. Mike Godino Center for Disability Rights, Inc. 412 State Street Rochester, New York 14608 Media Release For Immediate Release: July 23, 2003 Contact: Bruce Darling, (585) 546-7510 V/TDD Second Circuit Court of Appeal upholds local District Court Decisions; R-GRTA found to have discriminated against disabled plaintiffs in paratransit case Today, disability advocates celebrated a resounding victory in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. "We are thrilled," said Bruce Darling, Executive Director of the Center for Disability Rights, the organizational plaintiff in the case. "After years of trying to settle this case, attending local court hearings, going to New York City for the transit authority's appeal, and meeting with County Executive Jack Doyle to ask him to intercede, this is finally settled. The Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (R-GRTA) must face facts; they did discriminate against people with disabilities. Frankly, the only place they can go now is to appeal this issue to the Supreme Court of the United States." In the decision, the Second Circuit Court concluded that R-GRTA violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) "by failing to design and implement a system to schedule all next-day ride requests from eligible riders" and affirmed the district court's decision to grant summary judgment to the plaintiffs. The Court also found that R-GRTA violated the ADA "by maintaining a pattern or practice that significantly limits the availability of paratransit service for eligible riders." The Court recognized that R-GRTA "foresaw increasing ride demand and failed to modify their paratransit service plan to meet it." "I am so happy," said Debbie Bonomo, an individual plaintiff in the lawsuit. "This decision supports what we have been saying all along. R-GRTA has discriminated against us. Plain and simple." The timing of the decision coincides with the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26th) and CDR's annual celebratory dinner held in its commemoration. The dinner will be held tomorrow evening (July 24th) at 6:00 PM at the Crowne Plaza on State Street. During the dinner, CDR will release its annual list of Top Ten Disability Rights Victories and Disappointments. "We don't release our lists in advance," said Darling, "but the Court's decision can give you an idea of whose been naughty and nice regarding disability rights." Legal Contacts: Peter Dellinger, Sarah Gilmour, or Bryan Hetherington, Public Interest Law Office of Rochester, (585) 454-4060 -30- <<01-9105.pdf>>