Case: Taylor v. Regional Transp. Dist.

1:00-cv-00981 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: May 11, 2000

Closed Date: 2006

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On May 11, 2000, plaintiffs with mobility impairments sued a public transit agency the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, for violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act alleging their bus system presented numerous barriers to access, subjecting the plaintiffs to delay, embarrassment, and ridicule by passengers and drivers. Specifically, Plaintiffsclaimed that the buses had inoperative lifts; drivers did not know how to operate the lifts; the defen…
On May 11, 2000, plaintiffs with mobility impairments sued a public transit agency the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, for violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act alleging their bus system presented numerous barriers to access, subjecting the plaintiffs to delay, embarrassment, and ridicule by passengers and drivers. Specifically, Plaintiffsclaimed that the buses had inoperative lifts; drivers did not know how to operate the lifts; the defendant failed to provide adequate alternatives when accessible buses were not available; drivers, staff, and passengers harassed the plaintiffs and did not assist them; that drivers retaliated against the plaintiffs when they complained; and many other problems, all in violation of Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq., 28 C.F.R. Part 35, and 49 C.F.R. Parts 37 and 38; the Americans With Disabilities Act provision that deals with retaliation, 42 U.S.C. § 12203 and 28 C.F.R. § 35.134(a); and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794. The plaintiffs sought a declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief. On June 28, 2001, the court approved a consent decree. The decree required the defendant to make the following changes to its bus operation: implement a computerized system to track complaints and reports on disabled access; ensure all buses have operating lifts; train drivers and make changes to the driver disciplinary policy; require drivers to test the lifts before each shift; provide alternate transportation if a disabled individual could not use a lift; and give disabled passengers the option of being secured on the bus, rather than requiring their wheelchair or other devices to be secured. Undercover disabled individuals would monitor compliance with the decree. They would make three monitoring trips per day on random routes for the first year and one trip per day for the second year. The decree would last five years from the date of approval. The defendant was to pay $250,000 in damages, attorneys' fees, and costs. For each violation of the decree, the defendant agreed to pay $75 in liquidated damages. Any disputes would be resolved through mediation and, if that failed, the district court.The settlement concluded without further litigation, and the case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Eric Weiler (5/29/2010)

Clearinghouse (11/26/2018)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11286886/parties/taylor-v-rtd/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Breeskin, Michael Wayne (Colorado)

Fox, T. (Colorado)

Fox, Timothy Patrick (Colorado)

Attorney for Defendant

Brougham, David R. (Colorado)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Ellenby, Whitney L. (District of Columbia)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1:00-cv-00981

Docket

Sept. 28, 2001

Sept. 28, 2001

Docket

1:00-cv-00981

Amended Complaint

Oct. 5, 2000

Oct. 5, 2000

Complaint

1:00-cv-00981

Consent Decree

Sept. 28, 2001

Sept. 28, 2001

Settlement Agreement

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11286886/taylor-v-rtd/

Last updated April 7, 2025, 10:38 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
July 1, 1999

FILING FEE PAID: on 7/1/99 in the amount of $ 150, receipt # 207084. (former empl) (Entered: 07/02/1999)

PACER
Feb. 3, 2000

Tendered Complaint in Intervention re: motion to intervene Attorney General [17−1] (former empl) (Entered: 02/04/2000)

PACER
1 May 11, 2000

COMPLAINT (Summons(es) issued); jury demand (former empl) (Entered: 05/11/2000)

RECAP
May 11, 2000

FILING FEE PAID: on 5/11/00 in the amount of $ 150, receipt # 216088. (former empl)

2 May 15, 2000

ORDER by Chief Judge Richard P. Matsch. Disqualifying himself and clerk to reassign by random draw. (cc: all counsel) entry date : 5/15/00 (gms) (Entered: 05/15/2000)

RECAP
3 May 15, 2000

LETTER from court re case reassigned to Judge Weinshienk re: order [2-1] (former empl) (Entered: 05/16/2000)

RECAP
4 May 16, 2000

RETURN OF SERVICE of Summons and Complaint upon defendant RTD on 5/11/00 (former empl) (Entered: 05/18/2000)

RECAP
5 May 31, 2000

ANSWER by defendant RTD to complaint [1-1] (former empl) (Entered: 06/01/2000)

RECAP
6 June 5, 2000

ORDER R16,stat,stlmt,pt,pto Case referred to Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk (cc: to counsel) (former empl) (Entered: 06/07/2000)

RECAP
7 June 14, 2000

ORDER by Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle ; rule 16 conference set for 1:30 8/1/00 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 6/16/00 (former empl) (Entered: 06/16/2000)

RECAP
8 June 19, 2000

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle ; rule 16 conference set for 1:30 8/18/00 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 6/20/00 (former empl) (Entered: 06/20/2000)

RECAP
9 Aug. 18, 2000

COURTROOM MINUTES by Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle ; rule 16 conf held on 8/18/00 ; settlement conf set for 9:00 4/12/01 ; pretrial conf set for 9:00 8/17/01 ; entry date : 8/21/00 Court Reporter: Tape BDP CV 00-74 (gms) (Entered: 08/21/2000)

RECAP
10 Aug. 18, 2000

SCHEDULING ORDER Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle ; Discovery cutoff 5/16/01 ;dispositive motions due 6/15/01 (cc: all counsel) (gms) (Entered: 08/21/2000)

RECAP
11 Aug. 18, 2000

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle. Settlement/status conf set 4/12/01 at 9:00 a.m. PTC set 8/17/00 at 9:00 a.m. (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 8/21/00 (gms) (Entered: 08/21/2000)

RECAP
12 Aug. 31, 2000

MINUTE ORDER : by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk ; 2 wk jury trial set for 10:30 10/15/01 Substantive motions due 7/16/01 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 9/1/00 (gms) (Entered: 09/01/2000)

RECAP
13 Oct. 2, 2000

MOTION by plaintiffs for leave to file amended complaint and certificate of compliance with LR 7.1(A) (former empl) (Entered: 10/03/2000)

RECAP
Oct. 2, 2000

Tendered Amended Complaint submitted by plaintiff re: motion for leave to file amended complaint and certificate of compliance with LR 7.1(A) [13-1] (former empl)

14 Oct. 5, 2000

MINUTE ORDER : by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk granting motion for leave to file amended complaint and certificate of compliance with LR 7.1(A) [13-1] (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 10/6/00 (former empl) (Entered: 10/06/2000)

RECAP
15 Oct. 5, 2000

AMENDED COMPLAINT [1-1] by plaintiff; jury demand; adding plaintiff Natalie R. Orrell, CO Cross-Disability (former empl) (Entered: 10/10/2000)

RECAP
16 Oct. 20, 2000

Stipulated MOTION by plaintiffs and defendant to extend time for dft RTD to file a responsive pleading to pla's amended complaint (former empl) (Entered: 10/23/2000)

RECAP
17 Oct. 23, 2000

MEMORANDUM by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk referring to Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle the motion to extend time for dft RTD to file a responsive pleading to pla's amended complaint [16-1] (former empl) (Entered: 10/24/2000)

RECAP
18 Oct. 24, 2000

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle granting stipulated motion to extend time for dft RTD to file a responsive pleading to pla's amended complaint [16-1] granted to 11/2/00 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 10/25/00 (former empl) (Entered: 10/25/2000)

RECAP
19 Oct. 24, 2000

ANSWER by defendant RTD to amended complaint [15-1] (former empl) (Entered: 10/25/2000)

RECAP
20 Dec. 7, 2000

Stipulated MOTION by plaintiffs and defendant for protective order Re: confidential information in this case (former empl) (Entered: 12/08/2000)

RECAP
21 Dec. 8, 2000

MEMORANDUM by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk referring to Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle the motion for protective order [20-1] (former empl) (Entered: 12/08/2000)

RECAP
22 Dec. 11, 2000

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle granting stipulated motion for protective order [20-1] attached stipulated protective order is entered this date (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 12/12/00 (former empl) (Entered: 12/12/2000)

RECAP
23 Jan. 11, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle referring to Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer the motion for protective order [20-1], referring to Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer the motion to extend time for dft RTD to file a responsive pleading to pla's amended complaint [16-1] (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 1/12/01 (former empl) (Entered: 01/12/2001)

RECAP
45 Jan. 12, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk granting pla's motion to extend deadline for pla's to move for an award of their fees and costs until 2/12/01 [44−1] (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 1/17/01 (former empl) (Entered: 01/17/2001)

PACER
24 Jan. 18, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle Case referred to Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 1/19/01 (former empl) (Entered: 01/19/2001)

RECAP
25 Jan. 19, 2001

Joint MOTION by plaintiffs and defendants to amend schedule order to extend the remaining deadlines in this case by 9 months [10-1] (former empl) (Entered: 01/22/2001)

RECAP
26 Jan. 21, 2001

MEMORANDUM by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk referring to Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer the motion to amend schedule order to extend the remaining deadlines in this case by 9 months [10-1] [25-1] (former empl) (Entered: 01/23/2001)

RECAP
46 Jan. 24, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe ; further settlement conf set for 8:30 1/30/01 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 1/25/01 (former empl) (Entered: 01/25/2001)

PACER
27 Jan. 30, 2001

Joint MOTION by plaintiffs and defendant to reset trial date (former empl) (Entered: 01/31/2001)

RECAP
28 Jan. 30, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer denying joint motion to amend schedule order to extend the remaining deadlines in this case by 9 months [10-1] [25-1] Parties are to file a motion with Judge Weinshienk to continue the trial set for 10/15/01, After the trial is rescheduled the parties may resubmit their request to amend the scheduling order; the Pretrial conf set for 8/17/01 remains scheduled pending any rescheduling of the trial, Pretrial order due 8/13/01 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 1/31/01 (former empl) (Entered: 01/31/2001)

RECAP
47 Feb. 7, 2001

NOTICE regarding plas' attys' fees and costs by plaintiff Timothy Richardson, plaintiff Jonathan Steele; the issue was resolved at the 1/30/01 settlement conf (lam) (Entered: 02/10/2001)

PACER
29 Feb. 8, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk granting motion to reset trial date to 2/4/01 at 10:30, the trial prev set 10/15/01 at 10:30 is cont for good cause. [27-1] (cc: all counsel) ; entry date 2/12/01 (erv) Modified on 02/12/2001 (Entered: 02/12/2001)

RECAP
30 Feb. 12, 2001

MEMORANDUM by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk referring to Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer minute order of 1-30-01 [28-1] and Pla's renewed joint motion to amend scheduling order (erv) (Entered: 02/14/2001)

RECAP
31 Feb. 12, 2001

MOTION by plaintiff Bradley J. Taylor, plaintiff Julie Reiskin, plaintiff Debbie L. Lane, plaintiff Carrie Ann Lucas, defendant RTD, plaintiff Natalie R. Orrell, plaintiff CO Cross Disability Renewed joint motion to amend scheduling order [31-1] (erv) (Entered: 02/14/2001)

RECAP
32 Feb. 20, 2001

NOTICE of Change of Address of plaintiff Carrie Ann Lucas (lam) (Entered: 02/22/2001)

RECAP
33 Feb. 23, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer granting motion Renewed joint motion to amend scheduling order [31-1] [31-1], ; Status/ settlement conf set for 9:00 10/2/01 ; discovery ddl set 11/15/01 ; disp mtn ddl set 12/1/01 ; pretrial conf set for 9:00 12/10/01 ; jury trial set for 2/4/02 ; pto ddl set for 12/3/01 (cc: all ; entry date : 2/26/01 (erv) (Entered: 02/26/2001)

RECAP
34 May 21, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer ; status conf set for 10:00 6/28/01 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 5/22/01 (erv) (Entered: 05/22/2001)

RECAP
35 May 22, 2001

Joint MOTION by the parties for 3 month stay of this litigation (erv) (Entered: 05/23/2001)

RECAP
36 May 22, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk granting Joint motion 3 month stay of this litigation [35-1] this case is stayed until 8/22/01, It is Further Ordered that the Magistrate Judge may amend the scheduling order as appropriate. This case remains set for trial 2/4/02 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 5/24/01 (erv) (Entered: 05/24/2001)

RECAP
37 June 29, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer, A further settlement conference will be held on 8/24/01 at 1:30 at the offices of the Regional Trasportation District 1600 Blake, Room T/D, Denver, Co. Attys and client represenatives with authority to settle must be present in person. The settlement status conf previously scheduled for 10/2/01 at 9:00 shall remain as set at the present time (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 7/2/01 (erv) (Entered: 07/02/2001)

RECAP
38 July 31, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer ; status conf held 7/31/01 ; settlement conf set for 8/24/01 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 8/1/01 (dlb) (Entered: 08/01/2001)

RECAP
39 Aug. 15, 2001

Unopposed MOTION by Plas' to vacate settlement conf and submission of status report (erv) (Entered: 08/16/2001)

RECAP
40 Aug. 16, 2001

MEMORANDUM by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk referring to Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer the motion to vacate settlement conf and submission of status report [39-1] (pap) (Entered: 08/17/2001)

RECAP
41 Aug. 17, 2001

MINUTE ORDER : by Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer granting Pla's unopposed motion to vacate settlement conf and submission status report [39-1] on or before 9/14/01 ; settlement conf vacated 8/17/01 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 8/20/01 (erv) (Entered: 08/20/2001)

RECAP
42 Sept. 14, 2001

STATUS REPORT by Plas' (erv) (Entered: 09/18/2001)

RECAP
43 Sept. 27, 2001

Joint Request (Motion) by Pla,Dft, for order granting approval of Consent Decree (erv) (Entered: 09/28/2001)

RECAP
44 Sept. 28, 2001

CONSENT DECREE by Judge Zita L. Weinshienk regarding [43-1] motion for order granting approval of Consent Decree granting motion for order granting approval of Consent Decree [43-1] dismissing case (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 10/1/01 (erv) (Entered: 10/01/2001)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Colorado

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 11, 2000

Closing Date: 2006

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Disabled individuals using public fixed route bus service in Colorado

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Regional

State of Colorado

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701

Other Dockets:

District of Colorado 1:00-cv-00981

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Monetary Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Damages

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Amount Defendant Pays: $250,000

Order Duration: 2001 - 2006

Recommended Citation