In The News

ERC Wins the 2008 Alfred McKenzie Award

The Equal Rights Center was honored by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs’ presentation of the esteemed 2008 Alfred McKenzie Award.

Equal Rights Center Honored with Alfred McKenzie Award (The Blog of LegalTimes, 6/6/08)

Domestic Violence Discrimination

The Equal Rights Center released a critical new report that sheds light on the discrimination that survivors of domestic violence face when searching for housing in the District of Columbia.

Abuse Victims Face Bias, Study Says (The Washington Post, 5/8/08)
Domestic abuse increases chance of trouble finding homes, study says (D.C. Examiner, 4/23/08)
Domestic Violence Study (D.C. City Councilmember Jim Graham remarks, 4/22/08)

Access to Fair Housing

Freedom from discrimination when renting, buying, financing or insuring a place to live your right under the law.

Scare tactics vs. facts on predatory lending bill (The Montgomery County Gazette, 3/17/06)
A Broad Range of Groups Oppose Mortgage Lenders’ Attempt to Overturn an Anti-Discrimination Law in Montgomery County (Center for Responsible Lending, 3/14/06)

On April 11, 2005, the Equal Rights Center, in cooperation with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and the law offices of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld as well as Steptoe & Johnson and McDermott, Will & Emory, filed civil rights lawsuits against three of the largest D.C. landlords and property management companies. These actions allege discrimination based on source of income and race against tenants with Housing Choice Vouchers, formerly referred to as Section 8 vouchers, in the District of Columbia.

Bias Against Vouchers Alleged (The Washington Post, 9/9/05)
D.C. Landlords Sued Over Rent Vouchers: Poor are Rejected, Rights Group Says (The Washington Post, 4/12/05)
Landlords Accused of Rejecting Vouchers (ABC 7 News, 4/11/05)
Landlords Accused of Rejecting Vouchers: Test Calls Sought District Housing (The Washington Post, 4/11/05)

Familial Status

HUD Settles Investigation of Falls Church and Condo Developers: Agreement Protects Families with Children (HUD News Release, 11/19/04)

Disability Rights

More than 55 million people in the United States have some form of disability. This huge segment of the population is a frequent target of illegal discrimination.

Valid Anywhere But Next Door (The Washington Post, 3/7/06)

The Equal Rights Center reached a tentative settlement of a class action lawsuit against MetroAccess, the District’s paratransit service for people with disabilities. Under the terms of the multi-million dollar settlement, which is subject to court approval, MetroAccess will hire expert consultants to assist in its ongoing oversight of MetroAccess performance and enhance service by increasing the paratransit budget by $4 million a year over a three-year period.

Metro, Equal Rights Center reach settlement in class action lawsuit (Washington Metropolitian Transit Authority, 6/28/07)

Washington Hospital Center Agrees to Landmark Settlement To Improve Access for Patients With Disabilities. This agreement represents the resolution of a lawsuit filed on November 25, 2003, by the Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington (now the ERC), and four former patients who experienced inadequate care, services and facilities at the Hospital Center.

Landmark Settlement for Patients with Disabilities Among First of Its Kind under ADA (civilrights.org, 12/12/05)
DOJ Announces Two Settlements Over Disabled Access to Health Facilities (Health Law Reporter, 11/10/05)
Washington Hospital Center Settles Lawsuit, Agrees to Changes (Washington Business Journal, 11/3/05)
Suit Wins Changes for Disabled at Hospital (The Washington Post, 11/3/05)
Washington Hospital Center Settles Lawsuit (ABC 7 News, 11/2/05)

On September 22, 2005, the Equal Rights Center filed a complaint in federal court in Maryland on behalf of people with disabilities against national apartment developer AvalonBay Communities. The complaint alleges that AvalonBay has engaged in continuous and systematic violations of the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

More Apartment Landlords Are Likely to Face Disability-Access Suits (The Wall Street Journal Online, 11/16/05)
Rights Group Sues AvalonBay (The Journal News, 9/24/05)
Alexandria Builder Sued Over Access by Disabled (The Washington Post, 9/23/05)

On September 15, 2005, the Equal Rights Center filed a complaint in federal court in Maryland on behalf of people with disabilities against local apartment developer The Bozzuto Group alleging continuous and systematic violations of the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Builder Violated Disability Rights, Suit Says (The Washington Post, 9/16/05)
Group Sues Builder Under Fair Housing Act (Associated Press, 9/16/05)
Maryland Developer Sued for Inaccessible Buildings (ABC 7 News, 9/16/05)

On December 20, 2004, the Equal Rights Center filed a complaint in federal court in Maryland on behalf of people with disabilities against national apartment developer Archstone-Smith Trust. This case settled June 8, 2005.

Developer to Modify Units to Aid Disabled (The Washington Post, 6/9/05)
Developer to Fix Flaws Hampering Disabled (The Baltimore Sun, 6/9/05)
Housing Firm to Improve Access (Denver Post, 6/9/05)
Colorado Real Estate Trust Settles Civil Rights Suit (The Boston Globe, 6/9/05)
Archstone-Smith Settles Civil Rights Suit (Rocky Mountain News, 6/9/05)
Historic Settlement In Nationwide Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against Developer Archstone-Smith Trust (American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Press Release, 6/8/05)
Building Defects to be Fixed for Disabled (Associated Press, 6/8/05)
Archstone-Smith Settles Suit for $20M (Denver Business Journal, 6/8/05)
Disability Advocacy Groups Sue Denver-Based REIT Over Apartment Access (RIS Media, 12/23/04)

Access to Public Accommodations

American Association of People With Disabilities Joins Equal Rights Center in Nationwide Suit Against Hilton Hotels Corporation

New plaintiff in suit against Hilton (Dolan Media Company, 4/16/08)

Potbelly's to Make Restaurants Accessible to Wheelchair Users

Potbelly chain's ADA deal will lower counter heights (BNET, 12/03/07)
Potbelly Sandwich Works Agrees to modify all restaurants to enhance accessibility to people with disabilities (MarketWatch, 11/21/07)
Potbelly restaurants will be handicapped accessible (ABC 7 News, 11/21/07)

Access to Government Services

D.C. Parking and Accessible Meters

D.C. to Make Meters More Accessible (The Washington Post, 7/27/06)
D.C. Settles Suit Over Parking Meters (The New York Times, 7/27/06)
City Settles Suit Over Parking Meters (The Washington Times , 7/27/06)
D.C. Settles Suit Over Parking Meters (WTOP, 7/27/06)
Parking Relief For People With Disabilities (WUSA*9, 7/27/06)
Easier Meters On the Way for People With Disabilities (ABC 7 News, 7/26/06)
D.C. Settles Suit Over Parking Meters (Associated Press, 7/26/06)

Five Major D.C. Government Departments Fail to Comply With the 2004 D.C. Language Access Act

Language Discrimination Hinders Access to Health Care for Latinos (The NewStandard, 2/9/05)
Experiment Faults D.C.’s Welfare Guidance: Human Services Agency More Often Failed Spanish Speakers, Rights Group Says (The Washington Post, 1/31/05)

Immigrant Rights

Manassas City Schools Under Scrutiny; ERC Files Federal Discrimination Complain With HUD Against City of Manassas

Suit against Manassas alleges discrimination (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 10/17/07)
Manassas Is Accused of Violating Student Confidentiality (The Washington Post, 11/05/06)
Denuncian a la ciudad de Manassas por violar ley de privacidad de escolares latinos (Washington Hispanic, 11/03/06)
Six file federal complaint (Manassas Journal Messenger, 11/03/06)
Manassas Irate That Inquiry Is Escalated (The Washington Post, 10/12/06)
HUD to Probe Manassas Anti-Crowding Effort (The Washington Post , 05/26/06)

The ERC has launched a full investigation into the legality of the Manassas ordinance, and whether it illegally generates disparate impact on Latinos or any other group of Manassas residents.

Web site Message Upsets Some (Potomac News, 3/9/06)
Anti-Crowding Law Repealed (The Washington Post, 1/12/06)
Ordinance Enforcement Suspended (Potomac News, 1/6/06)
Va. City Suspends “Family: Rule (The Washington Post, 1/5/06)
Manassas Ordinance Raises Cries of Bigotry (The Washington Post, 1/1/06)
Activists Prepare to Challenge Va. Zoning Ordinance (WTOP, 1/1/06)

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