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In compliance/monitoringClass action

United Spinal Association v. City of New York

Settled 2020. NYC committed to remediation schedule for inaccessible sidewalks. Report violations.

Reading level
Plain language + legal text

What this case is about

This is a settled class-action lawsuit against the City of New York filed by United Spinal Association and others in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit challenged NYC's decades-long failure to install and maintain ADA-compliant curb ramps and accessible sidewalks across all five boroughs. Wheelchair users and people with other mobility disabilities faced barriers on a citywide scale. The case settled in 2020 with a commitment from NYC to remediate sidewalks and curb ramps citywide on a multi-year schedule with priority routing, milestones, and reporting obligations. The case is in compliance phase. Reports of missing, broken, or non-compliant curb ramps and sidewalks can be filed via NYC 311, with plaintiffs' counsel, or via DOJ complaint.

Who may qualify

Protects people with mobility disabilities encountering inaccessible sidewalks or curb ramps in any of NYC's five boroughs. Covers City of NY only — NOT NYS-maintained roads, MTA stations, Port Authority facilities, or private property.

What helps your case

Location (intersection + borough), photographic evidence, date, impact narrative, prior 311 service requests establishing notice.

How to document what happened

Photographic documentation, precise location (intersection + borough), date, impact. File via NYC 311 to establish notice.

What if you don’t have documentation?

Reports may proceed without records. Channels: NYC 311, plaintiffs' counsel, DOJ administrative complaint, NYCCHR, NYSDHR.

What this case doesn’t cover

Outside scope: NYSDOT corridors, MTA, Port Authority, federal facilities, private property, City facilities beyond pedestrian rights-of-way.

ADA Title II

Named defendants

  • City of New York

Case facts

Type
Class action
Affected states
NY
Court
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Who to contact

Nobody is running an intake for this one. You can still report what happened.

  • Government agency

    U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

    Takes complaints about businesses open to the public and about state and local government. It investigates and enforces, but it does not represent individuals and cannot advise you on your own claim.

    Phone 800-514-0301

    TTY 833-610-1264

    civilrights.justice.gov/report

    Filing a complaint is not the same as having a lawyer, and it does not pause any legal deadlines. If you may want to bring a case, talk to an attorney about your dates as well as filing.

    Every state has one. They are free, they take intake directly, and unlike a federal agency they can represent you. Find yours

Key dates

Status
Compliance phase, multi-year remediation across five boroughs
Settlement
2020