Good news on the fight to protect ADA regulations!

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Top Court Rules in Favor of Disabled Man

By ANNE GEARAN

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court upheld the rights of disabled people under a

national law meant to protect them, ruling Monday that a paraplegic who crawled

up the steps of a small-town courthouse can sue over the lack of an elevator.

The 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act properly gives private citizens such as

Lane the right to seek money in court if a state fails to live up to the

law's requirements, a 5-to-4 majority ruled.

In previous cases, the high court has repeatedly limited the effect of the ADA,

so Monday's outcome was unexpected.

At issue in Lane's case was the right of private citizens to try to pursue

alleged violations of the ADA in federal courts. Advocates for the disabled

claimed that the fear of hefty damage awards was a powerful tool to force state

governments to follow the requirements of the ADA.