Source: https://www.justice.gov/crt/united-states-district-court-district-oregon
Timestamp: 2018-10-16 13:17:18
Document Index: 228228818

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 12181', '§ 794', '§ 12101', '§ 12133', '§ 1331', '§ 1391', '§ 2201', '§ 12111', '§ 706', '§ 12182', '§ 12132', '§ 12181', '§ 36', '§ 12181', '§ 36']

United States District Court For The District Of Oregon | CRT | Department of Justice
JENNIFER DREW; BRIAN MORACE;
and OREGON ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF, INC.,
an Oregon nonprofit association, Plaintiffs,
PATRICK ANDREW MERRILL;
and Perinatal Associates, P.C.,
an Oregon corporation, Defendants.
This action arose initially out of a complaint filed by plaintiffs Brian Morace, Jennifer Drew, and Oregon Association of the Deaf, Inc. ("OAD") alleging the failure of Perinatal Associates, P.C., and Dr. Patrick Andrew Merrill to provide auxiliary aids and services, including qualified sign language interpreters, where such aids and services were necessary for effective communication with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have other communication-related disabilities, as required by Title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 USC ï½§ï½§ 12181-89 (hereinafter "ADA"), Title III regulations, 28 CFR pt. 36, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 USC ï½§ 794 ("Section 504"), Section 504 regulations, 45 CFR pt. 84, Oregon's antidiscrimination law, ORS 659.425(3), and various common law negligence standards. To address the interests of the public, the United States, acting through the Attorney General, who has statutory authority to enforce Title III of the ADA, 42 USC ï½§ï½§ 12101 et seq., filed a Complaint in Intervention against defendants Perinatal Associates, P.C. and Dr. Merrill alleging that they discriminated against persons who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as others associated with them by failing to provide them with the full and equal enjoyment of Perinatal Associates' goods, services, programs, and activities, and by failing to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services when necessary for effective communication. The parties continue to disagree whether Perinatal Associates has complied with federal and state laws requiring the provision of auxiliary aids and services to Mr. Morace and other persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. However, all parties have decided to put their disagreements behind them and to focus instead on their shared interest in working together in pursuit of the goal of ensuring that the physicians and non-physician personnel of Perinatal Associates are able to communicate effectively with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, be they patients or associates of patients. In pursuit of this goal, plaintiffs, defendants, and the United States of America have committed to this Consent Judgment.
The Court has jurisdiction over the above-captioned action pursuant to 42 USC ï½§ï½§ 12133 and 12188(b)(1)(B), and 28 USC ï½§ï½§ 1331 and 1345. Venue is proper in the District of Oregon pursuant to 28 USC ï½§ 1391 in that all claims alleged herein arose within this District. The Court may grant declaratory and all other relief necessary to enforce this Judgment pursuant to 28 USC ï½§ï½§ 2201 and 2202.
Plaintiff Brian Morace is an individual who is deaf and thus is a person with a disability within the meaning of the ADA, 42 USC ï½§ 12111(8) and Section 504, 28 USC ï½§ 706(8). Plaintiff is also a qualified person with a disability within the meaning of Section 504. Plaintiff's primary method of communication is sign language. As a result of Mr. Morace's disability, he uses and relies on sign language interpreters and/or other auxiliary aids and services for effective communication with people who do not use sign language.
Plaintiff Jennifer Drew is a nondisabled individual who has a relationship with plaintiff Brian Morace and who falls under the protections of the ADA's prohibition against discrimination based on association with a disabled person, 42 USC ï½§ 12182(b)(1)(E).
OAD is a nonprofit association whose mission includes assuring equal opportunity for and full participation of deaf individuals in the general community.
Plaintiff-Intervenor, the United States of America, by and through the United States Department of Justice, represents the public interest and has the authority to enforce Title III of the ADA, 42 USC ï½§ï½§ 12132, 12188(a) and (b).
Defendant Perinatal Associates, P.C. , is a group specialty medical practice. It operates and is licensed under the laws of the state of Oregon and engages in the delivery of health care services to the public in the greater Portland area. Perinatal Associates is a public accommodation within the meaning of Title III of the ADA, 42 USC ï½§ï½§ 12181-89, 28 CFR ï½§ 36.104 and a program or activity receiving financial assistance within the meaning of Section 504 and 45 CFR pt. 84.
Defendant Dr. Patrick Andrew Merrill is a health care specialist (perinatologist) licensed and operating under the laws of the state of Oregon. Dr. Merrill is an employee and shareholder of Perinatal Associates, P.C. Dr. Merrill, as an owner and operator of Perinatal Associates, is subject to Title III of the ADA, 42 USC ï½§ï½§ 12181-89, 28 CFR ï½§ 36.104 and Section 504 and 45 CFR pt. 84.
Policy For Effective Communication.
Release and Dismissal.
Retained Jurisdiction and Standing.
DATED this ______ day of ________________, 1999.