Disability Rights California Lawsuit against Alameda County

Cases
Sep 9, 2021

Disability Rights California Lawsuit against Alameda County

Disability Rights California (DRC), along with Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho, and the Law Office of Aaron J. Fischer have filed a federal lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act against Alameda County and Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services. The lawsuit challenges the unnecessary and illegal segregation of people with mental health disabilities- especially Black people with disabilities in psychiatric institutions and the failure to ensure people with disabilities are provided the services they need. 

DRC is demanding that the County expand and enhance intensive  community-based mental health services, including supported housing, so that people are not forced into institutions like John George Psychiatric Hospital, or the Santa Rita Jail, when they can be served in a more integrated setting.

Case Name: 
Disability Rights California v. County of Alameda

Court and Case Number: 
5:20-cv-05256 (N.D. Cal.)

Co-Counsel:
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
Law Office of Aaron J. Fischer
Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho

Independent Reviewer Reports on the County’s Implementation of the Settlement Agreement

Under the Settlement Agreement, the Independent Reviewer will draft comprehensive public reports on the County’s progress and implementation of the Agreement. The Independent Reviewer will also provide recommendations, if any, for achieving sustained substantial compliance with the terms of the Agreement. The Agreement requires that the Reviewer submit five reports no later than six (6), fourteen (14), twenty (20), twenty-five (25), and thirty-one (31) months after the Effective Date of the Agreement.

Significant Case Documents

Press Release

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