CLASS
ACTION FILED OVER LOS ANGELES’ FAILURE TO MAKE SIDEWALKS ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH
MOBILITY DISABILITIES
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8, 2008 – For years, people with mobility disabilities have
been denied access to the City of
Providing the
most basic connection between all aspects of the City, sidewalks are an
essential element of the public realm. The
lawsuit alleges that systematic barriers have made these sidewalks inaccessible for individuals with disabilities. The suit also claims that some sidewalks are
too narrow or have insufficient clearance due to obstacles. Furthermore, numerous intersections lack of
curb ramps and have poorly maintained curb ramps that force people who use wheelchairs
to travel in the city streets.
“Broken, cracked, raised, or poorly
maintained sidewalks prevent individuals with disabilities from participating
in the social and economic life of the City of
“The ADA and California law require that the
City ensure its system of sidewalks is accessible for people with mobility
disabilities so that they can conduct their daily activities independently and
not be segregated from the community,” added Guy Wallace of Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky
LLP, who is also representing the plaintiffs.
The lawsuit alleges that the City has not
adequately addressed the deplorable condition of its system of sidewalks. With an estimate of nearly half of the City’s
sidewalks being in need of repair, it would take roughly 80 years to deal with
all of the current broken and inaccessible sidewalks based on current policies
and procedures. The estimate does not
include accessible sidewalks that will become damaged or worn during the
intervening years. The suit also claims
the City has been reducing the number of curb ramps installed in the past few
years and it has no apparent plan to maintain curb ramps once built. Based on the City’s current procedure for
addressing individual complaints, it may take several years to have curb ramps
installed at a requested intersection, if at all. In addition, the suit also claims that apron
parking, which is when parked cars block sidewalks mostly in densely populated
areas with limited parking, also creates major barriers for people with
disabilities in the City of
Plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief from the City
of
In addition to Parks and Wallace, the
plaintiffs are represented by Paula Pearlman, Debra Patkin and Sage Reeves of
the
About
The
About Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky LLP:
Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky LLP is a dedicated group of