Civil Rights Lawyers | Recent Civil Rights News and Rulings

We discuss current civil rights news in our civil rights law blog. For more information about how our civil rights lawyers can help you, call us for a free consultation.

Amtrak Charged $25,000 to Accommodate Two Passengers in Wheelchairs

A Chicago-based advocacy group for people with disabilities contacted Amtrak weeks in advance of their travel date to accommodate their group with five wheelchairs. As mandated by law, the train only had space for three wheelchairs, one per car. Amtrak officials said it would cost $25,000 to remove seats to make room for the two additional [...]

2020-03-10T10:21:13-05:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Discrimination|Tags: CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

$1.75 Million Sexual Assault Settlement Reached for Special Needs Student

A disabled student of special needs cooperative S.E.J.A. No. 802 and Homewood-Flossmoor High School District No. 233 in Illinois reached a $1.75 million settlement to resolve allegations of sexual abuse. The student, 21 years old at the time of the abuse, alleged that another student sexually assaulted her twice at the facility in 2016. She also [...]

2020-03-10T10:21:49-05:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Sexual Harassment or Assault|Tags: CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

$215 Million Settlement for Victims of USC Gynecologist’s Sexual Misconduct

A federal judge in Los Angeles has indicated he will award a $215 million class-action settlement to former patients of University of Southern California’s campus gynecologist, Dr. George Tyndall. Under the terms of the settlement, more than 18,000 women who saw Dr. Tyndall during their time at USC would be guaranteed a $2,500 payment, whether or [...]

2020-03-10T10:22:44-05:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Sexual Harassment or Assault|Tags: CivilRightsLawsuit, CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

Over 1,300 Sex Abuse Lawsuits Filed in New York Following New Law

Following the implementation of the Child Victims Act in August 2019, over 1,300 sex abuse lawsuits have been filed in the state of New York. The Act essentially extends the statute of limitations for child sex abuse claims for New Yorkers, providing people up to age 55 the ability to file a civil lawsuit against their [...]

2020-03-06T15:18:07-06:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Sexual Harassment or Assault|Tags: CivilRightsLawsuit, CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

Chicago Police Department Ordered to Release Nearly 50 Years of Complaint Files

Ruling that the Chicago Police Department had failed to comply with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, Cook County Judge Alison Conlon has given the Department until the end of 2020 to hand over nearly a half-century’s worth of documents. The documents—unreleased files pertaining to allegations of police misconduct from 1967 to 2015—were ordered in a [...]

2020-03-10T10:24:54-05:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Civil Rights|Tags: CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

Marriott Faces $300,000 Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

A 51-year-old African American woman is suing Marriott for racial discrimination. Upon checking-in to the Residence Inn by Marriott Portland Downtown/Convention Center, the woman – a Marriott Rewards member – was asked to sign a “No Party Policy.” The front desk clerk informed her that the policy was established to inform all guests of noise limits. [...]

2020-03-09T08:27:26-05:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Discrimination|Tags: CivilRightsLawsuit, CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

G&E Civil Rights Attorney Karyn Bass Ehler Named to Illinois Super Lawyers 2020

G&E’s Karyn Bass Ehler, Senior Counsel and head of the firm’s Civil Rights practice, has been selected for inclusion to Super Lawyers’ list of 2020 Top Rated Civil Rights Lawyers in Chicago, IL. The list recognizes only 5% of attorneys in each state. Ms. Bass Ehler was previously included among Super Lawyers’ list of Rising Stars for four [...]

2020-03-10T10:10:49-05:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Civil Rights|Tags: CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

Lawsuit Filed Against State-Run Youth Detention Center for Alleged Abuse in NH

A class action lawsuit was filed in January 2020 in New Hampshire revealing allegations of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the Sununu Youth Services Center between 1982 and 2014. Victims were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of the alleged abuse. “These horrific acts of abuse were perpetrated by the very [...]

2020-03-09T08:40:57-05:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Sexual Harassment or Assault|Tags: CivilRightsLawsuit, CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

Ruling Upheld to Block U.S. Air Force from Discharging HIV-Positive Service Members

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has upheld an injunction barring the U.S. Air Force from discharging two HIV-positive airmen. The lawsuit stems from a Defense Department policy that forbids HIV-positive service members from deploying outside the United States without a waiver. In February 2018, the Trump administration elaborated upon the rule, [...]

2020-03-10T10:29:44-05:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Civil Rights|Tags: CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

Man Exonerated After More than 30 Years in Jail

More than 30 years after the murder conviction of Jack Sagin, he was exonerated and released from prison in October 2019. Using evidence based on testimony from a jailhouse informant, a jury found Sagin guilty of murdering a 40-year old California woman in 1986. Sagin won the right to conduct DNA testing in 2009, which determined [...]

2020-03-10T10:30:25-05:00By Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.|Categories: Civil Rights, Wrongful Conviction|Tags: CivilRightsNews|0 Comments

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