Civil Rights Legal Settlements
A Kentucky auto accident attorney with Bullock & Coffman has assisted the SettlementBoard editorial team in identifying topics of importance to readers of this blog.
Former Lakeland County, Fla., Deaf Services Director Settles Civil Rights Suit
The former director of Central Florida Deaf Services reached a civil rights settlement with local offices of the Social Security Administration (SSA) over services for deaf people.
As reported in "The Ledger," "Civil Rights Settlement: Treat Deaf People Properly," Debbie Lauricella had left her position to care for her ailing mother, who is also deaf. She applied for Social Security benefits and had to visit the office from time to time. However, even when she made appointments well in advance requesting a sign language interpreter, the SSA consistently failed to provide this service for her.
A Jacksonville legal aid lawyer combined her complaint with five others and filed them with the Atlanta-based Office for Civil Rights. The Lakleland, Jacksonville and St. Augustine SSA offices settled the suit by agreeing to change their procedures. There was no monetary award in the case.
Apartment Complex Owner Agrees to Civil Rights Settlement
The owner of an apartment complex in New York state has settled a lawsuit contending it had discriminated against African-Americans. As part of the settlement terms, the owner of the complex was fined and required to "establish a nondiscriminatory policy for renting to non-whites," according to a report in a lower Hudson Valley newspaper.
Steve Lieberman wrote in "Pearl River Gardens owner admits discriminating against blacks in settlement" that the apartment owner also admitted to violating the federal Fair Housing Act when he quoted higher rents to African-Americans and failed to let them know that apartments were available while still renting to whites.
The original amount of the settlement was $55,000, which was reduced after the complex revealed financial hardship.
Best Buy Settles Class Action Civil Rights Suit
Best Buy and civil rights lawyers for the plaintiffs agreed to settle a class action suit, which alleged that the electronics retailer systematically discriminated against women and minorities.
A Market Watch story, "Best Buy, Employees Agree to Class Action Settlement of Employment Discrimination Suit," reported that Best Buy agreed to change its employment practices going forward. Other terms were not disclosed.
The settlement, which has been agreed to by both parties, is pending approval by the Hon. Phyllis J. Hamilton, who presided over the case.
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