Ex-Partner of Ex-Lawyer and Convicted Swindler Scott Rothstein Now Makes a Living via ADA Suits

Only a few years ago, Stuart Rosenfeldt was living the high life with his name on the marquee of one of South Florida’s most prominent corporate law firms. He was making big bucks and had a Ferrari. Today the head of that firm, Scott Rothstein, is a convicted Ponzi schemer…

Aug 4, 2011 6:36 PM CDT

Psych Facility Supervisor Charged with Negligent Homicide in Death of Restrained Patient

A supervisor at a New York psychiatric facility has been indicted for criminally negligent homicide in the death of a restrained 27-year-old patient. Erik Stanley, 37, said he used appropriate procedures in attempting to subdue 27-year-old Jawara Henry, an autistic patient who died Dec. 4 at the South Beach Psychiatric…

Aug 3, 2011 8:08 PM CDT

Judge Allows Visually Impaired Law Student to Use Screenreader Software for Multistate Ethics Exam

Corrected: A visually impaired student at Vermont Law School will be able to use screenreader software for her multistate ethics exam as a result of a federal judge’s ruling. Deanna Jones of Middlesex, Vt., will use the software when she takes the exam on Friday, report the Associated Press and…

Aug 3, 2011 1:28 PM CDT

Letters: Court Cost Cutters

Aug 1, 2011 8:30 AM CDT

Tourette’s Doesn’t Interfere with Public Role for New General Counsel at ACC

The new general counsel for the Association of Corporate Counsel doesn’t shy away from public speaking, despite his Tourette’s Syndrome. Most recently, James Merklinger was deputy general counsel and acting vice president of legal resources at the group, according to a press release. In his new role as general counsel,…

Jul 26, 2011 3:26 PM CDT

Suit Claims NFL Hid Knowledge of Harmful Effects of Concussions

Seventy-five former pro football players claim in a lawsuit that the National Football League covered up information about the harmful effects of concussions. The suit claims the NFL knew of problems since the 1920s, but concealed the facts, TMZ reports. It wasn’t until 2010 that the NFL acknowledged concussions can…

Jul 21, 2011 10:30 AM CDT

Canadian Law Society Ordered to Pay $100K for Bias Against Lawyer Who Admitted Depression

The Law Society of British Columbia has been ordered to pay $100,000 to a Canadian lawyer who says the group discriminated against him for admitting he had been treated for depression. Peter Mokua Gichuru of British Columbia received the award in a decision (PDF) by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal,…

Jul 20, 2011 11:31 AM CDT

Verizon to Pay Record $20M, Change Attendance Policy to Settle ADA Case With EEOC

After several years of negotiation, Verizon Communications Inc. has agreed to pay a record $20 million to resolve a complaint that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by applying the same “no fault” cookie-cutter attendance policy to all workers, regardless of whether they had disabilities that might affect their…

Jul 7, 2011 6:53 PM CDT

Blind Law Student Sues to Win Permission to Use Screenreader Software on Multistate Ethics Exam

Corrected: A blind student at Vermont Law School has filed a federal lawsuit against the National Conference of Bar Examiners, seeking permission to use the same screenreader software she relies on in her studies on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The NCBE and co-defendant Act Inc. offer a number of…

Jul 6, 2011 12:09 AM CDT

Lender OKs Fair Housing Pact, Will Pay $765K, End Mortgage Nixes Due to Maternity Leaves

In a federal fair housing case that represents just a fraction of the discrimination that may be occurring nationwide, a Texas-based lender has agreed to pay $765,000 and stop discriminating against women who are taking maternity leaves. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the settlement yesterday. While…

Jun 2, 2011 8:44 PM CDT

Student with ADD Sues for More LSAT Time in Another Suit Alleging Disability Bias

Another student has filed a lawsuit claiming the Law School Admission Test discriminates against those with disabilities. The suit by Meghan Larywon, a senior at Wesleyan University, seeks double the time to take the exam and 15-minute breaks between sections, the National Law Journal reports. Larywon has attention deficit disorder…

Jun 2, 2011 12:31 PM CDT

ABA on Blind Applicant’s Suit: LSAT Isn’t Required; Law Schools Decide How to Weigh Any Test

In a written public statement responding to a federal lawsuit filed last week that accuses the American Bar Association of discriminating against those with visual impairments by requiring law school applicants to take an admission test that includes questions requiring the ability to diagram and demonstrate visual reasoning skills, the…

Jun 1, 2011 10:00 AM CDT

Get a Plan B: Disability Insurance Needs to Be in Your Insurance Plan

Jun 1, 2011 6:00 AM CDT

Blind Law School Applicant’s Suit Contends ABA Violates ADA by Promoting LSAT

A federal lawsuit filed in Michigan yesterday by a legally blind law school applicant contends that the American Bar Association is discriminating against the blind and visually impaired in the manner in which it accredits law schools. By pushing law schools to use the Law School Admission Test administered by…

May 25, 2011 6:00 PM CDT

EEOC Sues Starbucks, Alleging Discrimination Against Employee with Dwarfism

Starbucks fired an employee with dwarfism after refusing to provide her with a stool or stepladder, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged in a lawsuit filed yesterday against the coffee giant. According to a statement from the EEOC, Elsa Sallard asked for a reasonable accommodation to help her fix drinks…

May 17, 2011 7:14 PM CDT