Birmingham Attorneys Tommy James of Tommy James Legislation and Jeremy Knowles of Morris Haynes, and Pensacola Legal professional Caleb Cunningham of Levin Papantonio Rafferty (pictured above, left to proper) symbolize the plaintiffs.
Complaints allege disabled kids in residential therapy services are denied equal training; attorneys additionally symbolize victims of abuse on the services.
— TOMMY JAMES, ATTORNEY, TOMMY JAMES LAW
MONTGOMERY, AL, U.S.A., September 21, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — Multiple lawsuits have been filed yesterday in the US District Courtroom for the Center District of Alabama in opposition to Nancy Buckner, Commissioner of the Alabama Division of Human Sources, and Eric Mackey, State Superintendent of the Alabama Division of Training, claiming flagrant violations of the People with Disabilities Act (ADA). Six federal lawsuits have been filed yesterday on behalf of kids positioned in residential therapy services in Alabama (Case 2:23-cv-00557, Case 2:23-cv-00556, Case 2:23-cv-00554, Case 2:23-cv-00555, Case 2:23-cv-00553, and Case 2:23-cv-00558).
The lawsuits allege kids with disabilities in these services are discriminated in opposition to by segregating them in on-site “colleges,” denying them instructional alternatives equal to their non-disabled friends in common training settings.
A latest probe by the Division of Justice (DOJ) uncovered proof of the State of Alabama’s systemic discriminatory practices, revealing blatant violations of the ADA. The allegations in these lawsuits are in line with the DOJ’s findings, highlighting the truth that these kids are disadvantaged of significant interplay with their non-disabled friends, and so they additionally obtain inferior instruction, restricted sources, and insufficient help.
Birmingham Attorneys Tommy James of Tommy James Legislation and Jeremy Knowles of Morris Haynes, and Pensacola Legal professional Caleb Cunningham of Levin Papantonio Rafferty (pictured above, left to proper) symbolize the plaintiffs. Additionally they symbolize quite a few victims from throughout Alabama who’ve suffered bodily and sexual abuse in these services.
“The Division of Justice’s findings are deeply troubling and underscore the necessity for rapid motion to make sure our most weak have equal entry to training,” James mentioned. “It’s inexcusable state officers have ignored and been complicit in such systemic segregation and discrimination. The DOJ’s revelations aren’t solely regarding—they’re damning. Each little one, irrespective of incapacity, is entitled to equal instructional alternatives.”
“We have now filed these lawsuits not just for our shoppers however for each little one within the state who has been robbed of the training they deserve,” Cunningham mentioned. “Our objective is to shine a highlight on this blatant discrimination and to make sure it doesn’t proceed. We’re dedicated to preventing for the rights of kids with disabilities and guaranteeing they’ve the identical alternatives as their non-disabled friends.”
“These instances are concerning the basic rights of kids with disabilities in our state,” mentioned Jeremy Knowles. “We filed these lawsuits to pressure the state to cease discriminating in opposition to these kids. They deserve equal alternative, particularly in training.”
The lawsuits search, amongst different issues, compensatory damages, attorneys’ charges, and prices, emphasizing the extreme instructional, monetary, and social damages suffered by the plaintiffs and numerous different kids resulting from these discriminatory practices.
“With this authorized motion, we hope to carry consideration to the dire want for reform and set up a precedent guaranteeing equal training rights for kids with disabilities throughout Alabama and the nation,” James mentioned. “We’re assured we are going to prevail in these lawsuits, and the State of Alabama will likely be compelled to vary its discriminatory practices.”
James says he and his co-counsel filed these lawsuits and can proceed their investigations to carry the State of Alabama accountable for its discriminatory practices and to make sure no little one is denied an equal training as a result of of their incapacity.
Sara Stephens
Levin Papantonio Rafferty
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