UCP AffNet Entrance
Press Releases: 2006 Releases
United Cerebral Palsy Praises Supreme Court Ruling Addressing the Americans with Disabilities Act (01/13/2006)
United Cerebral Palsy, a leading national advocate for 54 million Americans with disabilities, praised the Supreme Court’s decision in Goodman v. Georgia this week, in which a prison inmate sued the state for forcing him to live in an inaccessible cell. United Cerebral Palsy joined other disability advocates in filing an amicus brief supporting the inmate.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on January 10 that Georgia inmate Tony Goodman should get a fresh chance to prove that the state owes him damages for not accommodating his disability. At issue was whether the state of Georgia could be sued for damages under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which bars discrimination in public services.
“Though narrow in scope, the Goodman ruling represents an affirmation of Congress’ ability to address lingering discrimination against Americans with disabilities,” said Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. “And the unanimity of the Court is a signal to states that they should finally enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act or be embarrassed in court.”
In the case, Mr. Goodman made two claims against the state. First, he alleged that state officials violated the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Second, he alleged that they had violated protections Congress created under Title II of the ADA. He claimed the state confined him for 23 to 24 hours per day in a 12-by-3 foot cell, in which he could not turn his wheelchair, and provided only inaccessible toilets and showers at Georgia State Prison that Goodman could not use without assistance, which was often denied. In addition, he was denied medical treatment and access to virtually all prison programs and services because of his disability.
Georgia claimed it could not be sued due to the “sovereign immunity” of states under the Eleventh Amendment, which bars citizens from filing federal suits against the state except when Congress abrogates that immunity under the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
The Court’s decision was narrow, however, saying only that cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment is incorporated in the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which therefore enables Congress to abrogate the state’s sovereign immunity. Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the majority, specifically refused to address whether Congress has the ability to abrogate states’ sovereign immunity when there is no actual violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Supreme Court sent the case back to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia where Goodman will be allowed to file an amended complaint. Once the new complaint is filed, that court will have to decide precisely which ADA claims were authorized.
Goodman was supported in the case by the United States. The cases are United States v. Georgia, 04-1203, and Goodman v. Georgia, 04-1236.
About United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy is one of the nation’s leading organizations serving and advocating for the more than 54 million Americans with disabilities. Most UCP consumers are people with disabilities other than cerebral palsy. Through its nationwide network, United Cerebral Palsy offers services to individuals, families and communities such as job training and placement, physical therapy, individual and family support, early intervention, social and recreation programs, community living, state and local referrals, and instruction on how to use technology to perform everyday tasks. For more information, visit www.ucp.org or call (800) 872-5827.
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