Facts

Everett Jewett, on behalf of a class of disabled inmates, filed a class action lawsuit against Shasta County under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Everett alleged that the Shasta County Sheriffs, who ran the county jail, violated its ADA requirements for disabled inmates. Plaintiffs claimed that disabled inmates were housed in non-compliant areas and denied services offered to non-disabled inmates. Everett specifically argued that Shasta allowed inmates to leave their cells for only one hour a day, failed to provide basic accommodations such as handrails, and denied them access to educational and religious services.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendants denied the allegations.

Result

The parties agreed to injunctive relief. Shasta agreed to hire a full time ADA coordinator in addition to hiring an accessibility expert to identify any necessary changes required to become ADA compliant.