Victory for Disabled Bus Riders

Many disabled Detroiters found themselves trapped in their homes, because the City of Detroit failed to fix the wheelchair lifts on its local buses. The citizens were in dire straits, because they could not get to medical appointments, attend church, or visit family and friends.

Fortunately, Richard Bernstein took up their cause.

After city officials refused to correct the problem voluntarily, Bernstein filed a federal lawsuit, seeking a court order requiring Detroit to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirement that public buses must be wheelchair-accessible.

The lawsuit brought the issue to the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice, which joined Bernstein in representing Detroiters with disabilities. Then the federal judge responsible for the case directed the parties to meet with a court-appointed facilitator to settle the matter.

After months of negotiations, Bernstein and the Justice Department won a major victory on behalf of their disabled clients.

In fact, the City of Detroit agreed to meet essentially all of their demands. These requirements were entered in a court order, to ensure that the City met its commitment to repair the bus wheelchair lifts, and maintain them in working order.

To find out more about Bernstein’s successful lawsuit, click on the links below.

• Detroit Must Fix Buses for the Disabled
• Wheelchair Users Sue Detroit Over Buses With Broken Lifts
• Broken Buses Prompt Lawsuit
• Lawsuit Says Detroit Buses Lack Working Wheelchair Lifts
• Road Block: Broken Lifts on City Buses Stop Disabled From Getting Around
• Feds Join Legal Fight to Make Buses Accessible
• Board the Bus: Lawsuit Reinforces Progress on Wheelchair Access
• The Other Movement That Rosa Parks Inspired