Santa Clara Settles Suit Accusing Discrimination Among Disabled

SAN JOSE, CA -- Santa Clara County settled a class action lawsuit from two years ago alleging discrimination against inmates with disabilities in three county jails.

The county had denied the violations brought forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the local government agreed to pay for enhancements at the Main Jail North, Elmwood Jail, and the new one to be built at the old Main Jail South.

According to the terms of the settlement, the county will also shell out $3.3 million in attorneys and compliance fees. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit will not receive any damages.

"We are pleased that, after years of difficult negotiations, the parties were able to come together to develop the consent decree, which will improve the lives of thousands of inmates with mobility disabilities now and into the future," said plaintiff attorney Lisa Ells of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld in San Francisco. "It's not a case where we were suing for money, we were suing for
change."

The county has already begun to improve facilities through a $100 million infrastructure plan.

Feature improvements include ADA-accessible examination rooms, mirrors, telephones, showers, exercise equipment, beds and entry ramps to jail facilities.

"The Sheriff's Office takes the obligation to provide accessible programs and services to inmates with mobility disabilities seriously and has already trained all staff on the ADA, revised its practices and allocated specific staff to provide for the individualized needs of disabled inmates," Sheriff Laurie Smith said.

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