Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1Z64589FP290332627
Via Email: davidt@flcourts.org
February 9, 2015
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3
Exhibit 4
Exhibit 5
The ADA One Avenue to Appointed Counsel Before a Full Civil Gideon (law review)
February 9, 2015
Page - 2
Brain injury leads to suspension for Maine lawyer; 'I couldn't stick to tasks,' he
says (American Bar Association, composite)
Notification from Social Security of full disability, 08-23-93, SSA to NJG-disabled.
Pages from disability motion, US 11th Circuit 12-11213-C and ER report
My full disability motion (251 pages) US 11th Circuit 12-11213-C is posted on Scribd,
http://www.scribd.com/doc/102585752/Amended-Disability-Motion-12-11213-C-C-A-11
My Scribd Disability "Collection" of documents is found here,
https://www.scribd.com/collections/3851318/Disability-and-the-Law
If you require anything else, please contact me. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Neil J. Gillespie
8092 SW 115th Loop
Ocala, Florida 34481
(352) 854-7807
3.
February 9, 2015
Page - 3
4.
Grace A. Fagan is not shown as an ADA coordinator anywhere in the state of Florida on
the attached (Exhibit 11) Directory of Florida Courts ADA Coordinators published by OSCA
and found on the OSCA website at the link below. But she is acting as an ADA Coordinator.
Question: Under what authority is Grace A. Fagan acting as ADA Coordinator?
Question: When will OSCA correct the omission of Grace A. Fagan from its Directory of
Florida Courts ADA Coordinators?
http://www.flcourts.org/core/fileparse.php/243/urlt/ADA_directory.pdf
5.
The attached Directory of Florida Courts ADA Coordinators (Exhibit 9) published by
OSCA and found on the OSCA website shows five other ADA Coordinators for the Fifth
Judicial Circuit for the respective counties of Marion, Citrus, Lake, Hernando and Bushnell. I
have not gotten a response from Tameka Gordon, the ADA coordinator for Marion County to my
ADA Title II accommodation request to her.
Question: Why has Tameka Gordon not responded to my ADA Title II request?
Ms. Tameka Gordon
110 N.W. 1st Avenue
Ocala, FL 34475
Phone: 352-401-6710 (ADA line)
Fax: 352-401-7883
ADA Duties: Marion County
6.
Grace A. Fagan, the apparent ADA Coordinator for the Fifth Circuit, has refused to
accept my emailed request for a copy of my ADA Title II accommodation request showing it
was received with the date stamp. Contrary to her assertion, I am not required to "put [my]
public records requests in writing and addressed to [her] office. All public records are required to
be hard copied via US Mail not email."
There is no requirement that a records request be in writing or sent through the U.S. mail to her
office. You know that Mr. David from my prior records request to you, made by email, and
records provided by you or OSCA in PDF format by email to me. Also, Ms. Fagan has not
provided a street address (that I can recall) and my shipper United Parcel Service (U.P.S.) can
not legally deliver to a Post Office Box. So email is the efficient way to do a records request.
February 9, 2015
Page - 4
Action needed: Inform Ms. Fagan about Floridas public records law, and her
responsibility to provide records as a public employee of the Courts. The mission of the
judicial branch is to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide
for the peaceful resolution of disputes. - OSCA website.
Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution guarantees Access to public records and
meetings. Public records are governed by Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.
All public records requests shall be acknowledged promptly and in good faith,
F.S. 119.07(1)(c)
Under F.S. 119.10(2) Ms. Fagan is a person subject to violation and penalties.
119.10 Violation of chapter; penalties.
(1) Any public officer who:
(a) Violates any provision of this chapter commits a noncriminal infraction, punishable
by fine not exceeding $500.
(b) Knowingly violates the provisions of s. 119.07(1) is subject to suspension and
removal or impeachment and, in addition, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2) Any person who willfully and knowingly violates:
(a) Any of the provisions of this chapter commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(b) Section 119.105 commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
7.
The ADA Title II accommodation request process is not supposed to be part of the
adversarial process, but it has been in this case. If you/OSCA believes the ADA Title II
accommodation request is subject to the adversarial process, state your opinion or belief thereto,
and provide citation(s) to law.
Marion County and the Fifth Judicial Circuit openly refuse to obey The Americans With
Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendment Act of 2008 (ADAAA), Public Law 110-325, as a matter of
official policy, a deprivation of civil rights under color of law against 18 U.S.C. 242.
An accommodation under the ADA TITLE II means the,
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) Public Law 101-336
Signed by President George Herbert Walker Bush on July 26, 1990
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act_of_1990
and major amendments to the ADA 1990,
February 9, 2015
Page - 5
February 9, 2015
Page - 6
Today I attempted to contact Tameka Gordon by telephone at (352) 401-6701, but was
greeted by the voice mail of another person. Does Ms. Gordon have another ADA
telephone number? Has Ms. Gordon been replaced as ADA Coordinator by another
person? This paragraph is not a records request, but related to the Americans with
Disabilities Act, of which you are the ADA Coordinator for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
8.
To be fair, it will respect the dignity of every person, regardless of race, class, gender
or other characteristic, apply the law appropriately to the circumstances of individual
cases, and include judges and court staff that reflect the community's diversity.
To be effective, it will uphold the law and apply rules and procedures consistently
and in a timely manner, resolve cases with finality, and provide enforceable
decisions.
To be accountable, the Florida justice system will use public resources efficiently,
and in a way that the public can understand.
Neil J. Gillespie
8092 SW 115th Loop
Ocala, Florida
Enclosures
Page 1 of 5
Neil Gillespie
From:
To:
Sent:
Subject:
Mr. Gillespie:
After reviewing your correspondence to me on December 18, 2014 (copied below), it does not appear that the correspondence
requests anything other than my view of the situation. This does not appear to be the type of correspondence to which I can
properly respond, since it seeks to elicit my opinion or advice. I cannot give you advice or my legal opinion since I am the general
counsel for OSCA. Otherwise, there are policies and procedure to follow when seeking ADA accommodations and when attempting
to file a complaint against the various individuals and entities that may be involved.
Sincerely,
2/9/2015
Page 2 of 5
Civil counsel may be appointed "in any situation in which the court appoints counsel to protect a litigants due process rights" 29.007 Courtappointed counsel.
----- Original Message ----From: Neil Gillespie
To: A. Lee Bentley ; DOJ ADA ; John Anthony Tomasino ; Tad David ; Paul F Hill ; John Thomas Berry ; John F Harkness ; Gregory William Coleman ; Adria E
Quintela ; Ramon A. Abadin ; Gov. Rick Scott ; Pam Bondi, AG ; Adam Putnam, Comm. ; Jeff Atwater, CFO ; ADA OSCA ; Public Information Office ; Patricia
Ann Toro Savitz ; Jon Marshall Oden ; Robert J. Stovash ; Barry Rodney Davidson ; Frank Harlan Killgore Jr. ; Michael Schneider ; Neil Gillespie
Cc: Hon. Hale R Stancil ; Hon. Don F Briggs ; Grace Ann Fagan ; McCalla Raymer E-service ; Tameka Gordon, ADA Coordinator ; Jane Bond ; Robyn Katz ;
Greg Harrell
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 5:11 PM
Subject: Shame on the Hale Ralph Stancil kangaroo court - listen for yourself
2/9/2015
Page 3 of 5
Currently Florida administratively provides legal counsel in compliance with the Sixth Amendment by and through the Florida Statutes, Title V,
Judicial Branch, Chapter 27 State Attorneys; Public Defenders; Related Offices, Part III, Public Defenders and Other Court-Appointed Counsel.
Section 27.40(1) Counsel shall be appointed to represent any individual in a criminal or civil proceeding entitled to court-appointed counsel under
the Federal or State Constitution or as authorized by general law. The court shall appoint a public defender to represent indigent persons as
authorized in s. 27.51. The office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall be appointed to represent persons in those cases in which
provision is made for court-appointed counsel but the public defender is unable to provide representation due to a conflict of interest or is not
authorized to provide representation.
(2)(a) Private counsel shall be appointed to represent persons in those cases in which provision is made for court-appointed counsel but the office
of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel is unable to provide representation due to a conflict of interest.
(b) Private counsel appointed by the court to provide representation shall be selected from a registry of individual attorneys maintained under this
section.
(3) In using a registry:
(a) The chief judge of the circuit shall compile a list of attorneys in private practice, by county and by category of cases, and provide the list to the
clerk of court in each county. The chief judge of the circuit may restrict the number of attorneys on the general registry list. To be included on a
registry, an attorney must certify that he or she:
1. Meets any minimum requirements established by the chief judge and by general law for court appointment;
2. Is available to represent indigent defendants in cases requiring court appointment of private counsel; and
3. Is willing to abide by the terms of the contract for services.
As for showing disability, Stancil took testimony from opposing counsel on my disability. That is beyond outrageous.
Because I receive Social Security Disability benefits pursuant to Title II of the Social Security Act, and was eligible for vocational rehabilitation
services, I am aware of a standard:
413.30 Eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services.
(2) Determinations by other state or federal agencies regarding whether an individual satisfies one or more factors relating to the determination that
an individual has a disability may be used. Individuals determined to have a disability pursuant to Title II or Title XVI of the Social Security Act
shall be considered to have a physical or mental impairment that constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment and a significant
disability.
Florida already administratively provides counsel, and could do so under the ADA upon "Determinations by other state or federal agencies
regarding whether an individual satisfies one or more factors relating to the determination that an individual has a disability"
Curtis Wilson for McCalla Raymer lied to the judge about pending motions. Wilson mentioned Defendants MOTION TO DISMISS filed, February
4, 2013, but did not tell the judge about Defendants' Rule 1.150 Motion to Strike Sham Pleadings, filed July 25, 2014.
Wilson also lied about my motion to quash service. Wilson told the judge the motion was based on lack of ADA language. Wilson failed to tell the
judge that the summons for me personally had the wrong date - by a year. Here are some paragraphs from my motion to quash summons:
4. Service of process must strictly comply with all relevant statutory provisions. Walker v. Fifth Third Mortgage Company, 2012 WL 5457220,
No. 5D12-3187 (Fla. 5th Dist. Ct. App. 2012) citing Shurman v. Atlantic Mortgage & Investment Corp. (Fla. 2001) (holding that "statutes
governing service of process are to be strictly construed and enforced") see also Re-Employment Services, Ltd v. National Acquisitions Co., 969
So. 2d 467 (Fla. 5th Dist. Ct. App. 2007) (holding that "courts require strict construction of, and compliance with, the provisions of statutes
governing service of process").
Strict compliance? Not in the Hale Ralph Stancil kangaroo court.
7. The party seeking to invoke the courts jurisdiction has the burden to prove the validity of service of process. Torres v. Arnco Constr., Inc., 867
So. 2d 583, 587 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004).
Burden of proof? Not in the Hale Ralph Stancil kangaroo court
9. Because Plaintiff failed to strictly comply with the requirements of Fla. Stat. 48.031(5), service of process must be quashed. Vidal, 41 So. 3d
401; see also Gamboa v. Jones, 455 So. 2d 6] 3 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 1984).
Service of process must be quashed. HA HA, Not in the Hale Ralph Stancil kangaroo court!
Dear Mr. David,
No one has responded to my ADA request submitted in Marion County. What will OSCA do to assure compliance with the ADA Amendments Act
of 2008?
Civil counsel may be appointed "in any situation in which the court appoints counsel to protect a litigants due process rights" 29.007 Courtappointed counsel.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/STATUTES/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0029/Sections/0029.007.html
29.007 Court-appointed counsel.For purposes of implementing s. 14, Art. V of the State Constitution, the elements of court-appointed counsel
to be provided from state revenues appropriated by general law are as follows:
(1) Private attorneys appointed by the court to handle cases where the defendant is indigent and cannot be represented by the public defender or
the office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel.
(2) When the office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel has a conflict of interest, private attorneys appointed by the court to represent
2/9/2015
Page 4 of 5
indigents or other classes of litigants in civil proceedings requiring court-appointed counsel in accordance with state and federal constitutional
guarantees and federal and state statutes.
Subsections (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) apply when court-appointed counsel is appointed; when the court determines that the litigant is indigent for
costs; or when the litigant is acting pro se and the court determines that the litigant is indigent for costs at the trial or appellate level. This section
applies in any situation in which the court appoints counsel to protect a litigants due process rights.
Unfortunately Hale Ralph Stancil knowingly failed to protect my due process rights. I consider that a deprivation of rights under the color of law,
in violation of 18 USC 242. http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/crm/242fin.php
THE BANKS DESTROYING AMERICA, Florida attorney Matt Weidner, http://youtu.be/BsLoG4Q8k58
An Occupy.com Profile: Captain Ray Lewis, http://youtu.be/jv_CcmRZ7zc
The American Bar Association (ABA) recently added a "Civil Right to Counsel" page, "Law Governing Appointment of Counsel in State Civil
Proceedings", http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/initiatives/civil_right_to_counsel.html with 50 research reports,
one for each state detailing existing authority for appointment of counsel in various types of civil proceedings. There is an Appendix: International
Law Relating to Appointment of Counsel in Civil Proceedings.
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/ls_sclaid_judges_manual_appendix.authcheckdam.pdf
Florida law for civil counsel appointment.
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/ls_sclaid_judges_manual_fl.authcheckdam.pdf
Law Addressing Authorization or Requirement to Appoint Counsel in Civil Proceedings Generally
State Statutes and Court Decisions Interpreting Statutes
Fla. Stat. 29.007 (2011) ("Court-appointed counsel") provides:
For purposes of implementing s. 14, Art. V of the State Constitution [relating to funding
of the judiciary], the elements of court-appointed counsel to be provided from state
revenues appropriated by general law are as follows:
(1) Private attorneys appointed by the court to handle cases where the defendant is
indigent and cannot be represented by the public defender or the office of criminal
conflict and civil regional counsel.
(2) When the office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel has a conflict of interest, private attorneys appointed by the court to represent
indigents or other classes of litigants in civil proceedings requiring court-appointed counsel in accordance with state and federal constitutional
guarantees and federal and state statutes.
...
This section applies in any situation in which the court appoints counsel to protect a
litigants due process rights.
A private attorney appointed by a court pursuant to 29.007 (2011) "shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses" incurred during
representation. Fla. Stat. 27.5304 (2011). Fla. Stat. 27.5304 lists the fat fees to be awarded to private attorneys. Counsel may seek compensation
in excess of the fat fees listed in 27.5304 only if "compensation on an hourly basis at a rate of $75.00 would be at least double the fat fee." Justice
Admin. Comm'n v. Shaman, 59 So. 3d 1231 (Fla. App. 2011).
The ABA report shows Florida is authorized to appoint counsel in Specific Types of Civil Proceedings, page 2,
Law Addressing Authorization or Requirement to Appoint Counsel in Specific Types of Civil Proceedings
1. Shelter
Federal Statutes and Court Decisions Interpreting Statutes
The federal Fair Housing Act, contained within Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, provides that "[a]n aggrieved person may commence a
civil action in an appropriate United States district court or State court." 42 U.S.C. 3613 (a)(1)(A). Further, "[u]pon application by a person
alleging a discriminatory housing practice or a person against whom such a practice is alleged, the court may-- (1) appoint an attorney for such
person." 42 U.S.C. 3613(b).
On December 10, 2013 I filed a civil rights complaint against McCalla Raymer LLC, et al. and others with the Florida Commission on Human
Relations (FCHR) the complaint was ignored and dismissed. However my HUD complaint also claimed under civil rights.
Forward
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/ls_sclaid_judges_manual_foreword.authcheckdam.pdf
"It is a commonplace for courts throughout the United States to announce, "there is no right to counsel in civil cases in this state." Yet, in truth, in
every state there are at least a few categories of civil cases in which indigent litigants have a right to counsel. Indeed in some jurisdictions there are
many such rights. It also is not unusual for state law to grant judges a discretionary power to appoint counsel for such litigants in still other kinds of
cases, or even for all civil cases."
Sincerely,
Neil J. Gillespie
8092 SW 115th Loop
Ocala, Florida 34481
352-854-7807
neilgillespie@mfi.net
2/9/2015
Page 5 of 5
Judge Stancil,
This email is to confirm that Sue Starling received my faxed motion to disqualify you, that was served on you at 5.23 AM today by the Florida
Courts E-filing portal. Sue said you were going ahead with the hearing anyway. That is contrary to law. I left a message that I can attend
telephonically. A copy of the motion to disqualify you is attached.
Neil J. Gillespie, 8092 SW 115th Loop, Ocala, Florida 34481
2/9/2015
RIGHT TO AN ACCOMMODATION
If you are an individual with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in
a court proceeding or other court service, program, or activity, you are entitled, at no cost to
you, to the provision of certain assistance. Requests for accommodations may be presented on
this form, in another written format, or orally. Please complete the attached form and return it
to the following:
Citrus County John Sullivan, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Ave, Inverness, Fl,
34450, phone 352-341-6700, fax 352-341-7008, jsullivan@circuit5.org
Hernando County-Peggy Welch, Hernando County Courthouse, 20 N. Main Street, Brooksville,
FL 34601, phone 352-754-4402, fax 352-754-4035, pwelch@circuit5.org
Lake County-Nicole Berg, Lake County Judicial Center, PO Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778, phone
352-253-1604, fax 352-253-1630, nberg@circuit5.org
Marion County-Tameka Gordon, Marion County Judicial Center, 110 NW 1st Ave, Ocala, FL
34475, phone 352-401-3710, fax 352-401-7883, tgordon@circuit5.org
Sumter County-Lorna Barker, Sumter County Judicial Complex, 225 E. McCollum Ave, Bushnell,
FL 33513, phone 352-569-6012, fax 352-569-6098, lbarker@circuit5.org
This should be done as far in advance as possible, but preferably at least seven (7) days before
your scheduled court appearance or other court activity.
Upon request by a qualified individual with a disability, this document will be made
available in an alternate format. If you need assistance in completing this form due
to your disability, or to request this document in an alternate format, please contact
Citrus County John Sullivan, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Ave, Inverness, Fl,
34450, phone 352-341-6700, fax 352-341-7008, jsullivan@circuit5.org
This form was developed for use by individuals with disabilities who may require a
modification in a policy, provision of an auxiliary aid or service, or assignment to an accessible
location in order to participate in a court proceeding or other court service, program, or activity
that is covered by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Court employees with
disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation to be able to perform the essential
functions of their jobs should contact their immediate supervisor, the ADA coordinator for their
court, the OSCA Office of Personnel Services, or the State Courts ADA Coordinator.
Accommodations that are granted by the state courts are made at no cost to qualified
individuals with disabilities. 2
Please note that providing accommodations for some individuals with disabilities who appear
in the courtroom as part of their employment duties or professional practice is a responsibility
that appropriately may be shared by the individuals employer and the courts. Title I of the
Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers of 15 or more employees and Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act requires all state and local government employers to provide
reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities. In addition, Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, covers recipients of federal funding, and
requires all covered organizations to provide accommodations for their employees. These
responsibilities are concomitant with the courts responsibility under Title II of the ADA. It is to
everyones benefit when employers and the court system work together to ensure that
reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided in the most efficient
and cost effective manner.
Florida State Courts System
Page 2
Additionally, the courts cannot administratively grant, as an ADA accommodation, requests that
impact court procedures within a specific case. Requests for an extension of time, a change of
venue, or participation in court proceedings by telephone or videoconferencing must be
submitted by written motion to the presiding judge as part of the case. The judge may consider
an individuals disability, along with other relevant factors, in granting or denying the motion.
Furthermore, the court cannot exceed the law in granting a request for an accommodation. For
example, the court cannot extend the statute of limitations for filing an action because
someone claims that he or she could not make it to the court on time due to a disability, nor
can the court modify the terms of agreements among parties as an ADA accommodation.
Finally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require the court system to take any
action that would fundamentally alter the nature of court programs, services, or activities, or
that would impose an undue financial or administrative burden on the courts.
Page 3
This should be done as far in advance as possible, but preferably at least seven (7)
days before your scheduled court appearance or other court activity.
12
10
2014
1. Date request submitted: ______/______/______
2. Person needing accommodation
Neil J. Gillespie
Name: _________________________________________________________________
Are you (please check one of the following seven options):
[ ] Defendant
[] Litigant/Party
[ ] Witness
[ ] Juror
[ ] Victim
[ ] Attorney
n/a
Name: _________________________________________________________________
n/a
Telephone Number (include area code): ______________________________________
n/a
Email Address: __________________________________________________________
n/a
Relationship to person needing an accommodation: ____________________________
Page 4
2013-CA-000115 or 42-2013-CA-000115-AXXX-XX
Case number, if known: __________________________________________________
Hon. Hale Stancil
Judge, if known: ________________________________________________________
Hearing Dec-18-2014 and duration of this case
Date accommodation needed: ______________________________________________
The hearing is 10:00 AM
Time accommodation needed: ______________________________________________
County Judicial
Location (courthouse/courtroom) accommodation needed: Marion
_______________________
[ ] circuit criminal
[ ] circuit civil
[ ] small claim
[ ] family court
[ ] county criminal
[ ] county civil
home foreclosure
[] other (please specify) HECM
____________________
Type of proceeding, if known (please check one of the following six options):
[ ] arraignment
[ ] bond hearing
[ ] hearing
[ ] trial
6. Accommodations requested
TBI traumatic brain injury, see
Nature of disability that necessitates accommodation: ___________________________
Amended Disability Motion, US 11th Circuit, 12-11213-C, Neil J Gillespie copy available
________________________________________________________________________
Page 5
"The ADA: One Avenue to Appointed Counsel Before a Full Civil Gideon,"
________________________________________________________________________
Seattle Journal for Social Justice: Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 30, copy on request.
________________________________________________________________________
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-325, ADAAA), also see
________________________________________________________________________
Amended Disability Motion, US 11th Circuit, 12-11213-C, Neil J Gillespie copy available
________________________________________________________________________
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
Page 6
Page 7
Page 1 of 1
Neil Gillespie
From:
"Sullivan, John" <jsullivan@circuit5.org>
To:
"Neil Gillespie" <neilgillespie@mfi.net>
Sent:
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 11:54 AM
ATT00165.txt
Attach:
Subject: Read: Public records; request for ADA/disability Accommodation
Your message
To: Sullivan, John
Subject: Fw: Public records; request for ADA/disability Accommodation
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2014 11:42:40 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
was read on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 11:54:21 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
3
2/9/2015
Page 1 of 1
Neil Gillespie
From:
To:
Cc:
Sent:
Attach:
Subject:
4
2/9/2015
Article 30
5-1-2004
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Publications and Programs at Seattle University School of Law Digital Commons.
It has been accepted for inclusion in Seattle Journal for Social Justice by an authorized administrator of Seattle University School of Law Digital
Commons.
609
losing health care and public assistance. Until the larger battle for free civil
representation is fought and won, the legal community must seek other
remedies for low-income clients that, although not sweeping in nature, may
provide relief for at least the most vulnerable and those least able to
represent themselves.
Who are the litigants least able to represent themselves in court, who
would be denied access to our system of justice unless provided with an
attorney to advocate for them? Are there litigants who, once inside the
courtroom, simply cannot understand what is happening or cannot
meaningfully participate in the proceedings, not because they lack
education or experience, but because mental or physical disabilities impair
their understanding? Any attorney who has represented disabled clients in
court, or any judge who has seen litigants with these disabilities attempt to
put on a case or defense, knows that the answer to this question is
frequently a resounding yes.
Certain mental disabilities prevent a person from comprehending what is
happening in the courtroom or mustering a case. Some examples come
readily to mind: mental retardation, dementia, schizophrenia, and severe
depression.8 Similarly, certain physical disabilities sap energy or vitality to
the extent that a person is unable to participate meaningfully in court.
Some individuals with brain injuries, terminal illnesses, Parkinsons
disease, multiple sclerosis, AIDS,9 apraxia,10 and end-stage alcoholism11
may qualify. Simply put, clients with these disabling conditions may be
denied access to our justice system without legal representation.
Most people easily understand why clients with physical disabilities,
such as blindness or hearing loss, need accommodations to get in the
courthouse door and to participate meaningfully in the justice system. For
instance, some deaf individuals are denied access to justice through denial
of a sign-language interpreter in the courtroom.12 Only an interpreter can
translate the conversation in the proceeding and allow the hearing-impaired
person to have her voice heard. Similarly, a person with impaired vision
restrict that right only to disabled individuals. Rather, a full civil Gideon
would provide counsel to all litigants who are unable to afford their own
attorney, regardless of disability. On the other hand, the ADA affords a
broader remedy because its provisions are not needs based; that is, ADA
accommodations are available to rich and poor alike, and are not restricted
by a litigants ability to pay for an attorney accommodation.19 No financial
application is required to receive an ADA accommodation.
The likely reality, however, is that those disabled individuals who need
legal representation to defend or to pursue a claim, and who have the
financial means to hire private counsel of their own choice will do so, even
if, theoretically, they may be provided an attorney as a reasonable
accommodation by the courts free of charge. Finally, individuals with
disabilities are by and large more likely to be poorer than the population as
a whole.20 Thus, the impact of providing legal representation as an
accommodation will most likely benefit those who are financially most in
need.21 As a result, we argue that all civil litigants with disabilities that
prevent them from understanding or participating in the legal system should
receive appointed counsel.
The first section of this article discusses the basic arguments and
procedures for proving a disability under the ADA and seeking legal
representation as a reasonable accommodation for clients in courts. The
second section addresses representation for clients in administrative
hearings. In administrative hearings, clients with disabilities are most often
left to fight alone for rights to food (such as Food Stamps), income (such as
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, General Assistance,
Supplemental Security Income, and Social Security), and health care (such
as Medicare and Medicaid). The third section discusses additional policy
arguments supporting the case for legal representation under antidiscrimination laws. The final section suggests ways to present these
arguments to courts so that eligible litigants can access free legal
representation in appropriate cases.
More than 49.7 million Americans, roughly one in five of the 257.2
million people in the United States age five or older, have mental or
physical disabilities or other long-lasting impairments.22 Before the
enactment of the ADA, Congress recognized that current laws were
inadequate to combat the pervasive problems of discrimination that
people with disabilities are facing.23 As a result of this discrimination,
Congress enacted the ADA in 1990, seeking to provide a clear and
comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination
against individuals with disabilities.24
Title I of the ADA addresses discrimination in employment and applies
to persons engaged in an industry affecting commerce who have at least
fifteen employees (the United States and bona fide private membership
clubs other than labor unions are exempt).25
Title II addresses
discrimination in public services and applies to state and local governments,
their departments, agencies, and other instrumentalities.26 In fact, Title II
covers all public agencies, regardless of whether they receive federal
financial assistance.27 Title III of the ADA addresses discrimination in
places of public accommodation and services operated by private entities.28
Businesses governed by Title III include banks, restaurants, supermarkets,
hotels, shopping centers, privately owned sports arenas, movie theaters,
private day-care centers, schools and colleges, accounting or insurance
offices, lawyers and doctors offices, museums, and health clubs.29 Title
IV of the ADA addresses telecommunications, including closed captioning
and relay services for people with hearing impairments.30
Denying appointed counsel for certain disabled civil litigants violates
Title II, the Public Services section, of the ADA.31 Title II prohibits
discrimination against disabled individuals in public services.32
Specifically, Title II provides that, no qualified individual with a disability
Mr. Lane and another plaintiff, a wheel-chair bound court reporter who
could not work in many Tennessee courtrooms because they were
inaccessible, sued the state on behalf of a class of physically disabled
persons. They argued for injunctive relief and damages under Title II of the
ADA. The State argued that Eleventh Amendment immunity applies,
thereby protecting the State from private suits for money damages. The
Sixth Circuit held that the Eleventh Amendment immunity of the states to
private damages suits did not apply to claims under Title II of the ADA,
when the claim involved the Due Process Clause.
Parties in civil litigation have an analogous due process right to be
present in the courtroom and to meaningfully participate in the
process unless their exclusion furthers important governmental
interests. . . . These guarantees are protective of equal justice and
fair treatment before the courts. The evidence before Congress
when it enacted Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
established that physical barriers in government buildings,
including courthouses and in the courtrooms themselves, have had
the effect of denying disabled people the opportunity to access
vital services and to exercise fundamental rights guaranteed by the
Due Process Clause.43
In this article, we argue that the denial of equal justice and fair treatment
before the courts applies with equal vigor when a persons mental or
physical disabilities prevent him not from mounting the stairs to the
courtroom, but from mounting the case itself. Here, the appropriate and
reasonable accommodation is attorney representation rather than elevator
access to the court proceedings.
The failure to make court facilities available to disabled individuals also
violates the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD).44
Generally, WLAD bans discrimination on the basis of any sensory, mental,
or physical disability.45 Further, the WLAD makes the right to be free
from discrimination a civil right46 and protects the right to the full
enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, or
cases.55 Trial courts, as services within the meaning of Title II,56 must
provide these protections.
The third step in establishing disability discrimination under Title II
requires showing that such exclusion or denial of a service or benefit was
by reason of an individuals disability.57 Courts fail to make their services
accessible to litigants who are not able to use the system effectively because
of mental or physical impairments. Meaningful access does not exist when
a litigants inability to understand or to participate in proceedings because
of a disability surpasses the mere confusion many lay persons experience
when participating in the legal system. As the Honorable Robert W. Sweet,
in proposing full civil Gideon, has noted:
As every trial judge knows, the task of determining the correct
legal outcome is rendered almost impossible without effective
counsel. Courts have neither the time nor the capacity to be both
litigants and impartial judges on any issue of genuine complexity.
As recognized by the Lassiter dissent, By intimidation,
inarticulateness or confusion, a [litigant] can lose forever the right
she sought to protect.58
When confusion stems from a disability, Judge Sweets admonition
carries even more force. A disabled litigant may be physically present in
the courtroom but have little understanding of the law and proceedings and
little ability to advocate for her rights. A factual showing that a litigant
does not understand proceedings and cannot meaningfully participate
because of a disability compels the court to consider providing reasonable
accommodations.59 A public entity, including a court, must reasonably
accommodate a qualified individual with a disability.60 Mere equality of
treatment is insufficient.61
Upon receiving a request for an accommodation, a public entitys duty is
well settled by state and federal case law and by the applicable
regulations.62 First, the public entity must undertake a fact-specific
investigation to determine what constitutes a reasonable accommodation
and must provide the criteria by which to determine whether the evaluation
is adequate.63 The ADA and the Rehabilitation Act attempt to provide
whatever services or actions are necessary to ensure that disabled persons
are not discriminated against as a result of their disabilities. One court
noted, mere speculation that a suggested accommodation is not feasible
falls short of the reasonable accommodation requirement; the Acts create a
duty to gather sufficient information from the disabled individual and
qualified experts as needed to determine what accommodations [are]
necessary.64
Necessary accommodations include effective courtroom communications: a public entity shall take appropriate steps to ensure that
communications with applicants, participants, and members of the public
with disabilities are as effective as communications with others.65
Appointment of counsel, which would allow the individual with a disability
to communicate with the court, could qualify as a reasonable
accommodation because it is similar to the following sample aids and
services provided in the regulations:
1.
2.
3.
This extensive list and the final, separate category for other similar
services or actions suggest a broadly-based evaluation of appropriate
auxiliary aids and services. These services include the assistance of trained
individuals, such as sign-language interpreters for the deaf and readers for
the blind. Appointed counsel for some litigants with certain disabilities
would serve the same interpretive function and would allow the litigants to
participate in the proceedings.
Appointed counsel would not be necessary for all litigants who suffer
from certain disabilities. The degree of impairment matters, as does the
specific setting and alternative accommodations available. For this reason,
the ADA does not prescribe the appropriate accommodation for each
disability because an appropriate accommodation for one person might be
inappropriate for another. For example, while one visually-impaired person
might need a reader, another might need materials in Braille.67 The public
entity, however, must consider available options and furnish appropriate
auxiliary aids and services where necessary.68 In determining the
appropriate aid or service, the public entity shall give primary
consideration to the requests of the individual with disabilities.69
Accordingly, a court cannot offer a blanket accommodation for all
individuals with a specific disability; it must consider the particular
individuals need when determining which accommodations are
reasonable.70
For some litigants with disabilitiesthose who cannot understand or
participate in the legal proceedingsinterpreters are the only appropriate
accommodation.
Other options would not ensure that a courts
communications with such individuals are as effective as communications
with others,71 as required by law.72 For example, although one
commentator has suggested that the best current option for providing legal
assistance for the poor lies in improving pro se assistance projects,73 that
proposal would provide no benefit to litigants whose disabilities impair
their ability to understand or to partake in the legal process. Similarly,
The arguments under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act for legal
representation as a reasonable accommodation apply, in almost the same
manner, to the administrative hearing context. People with disabilities are
regularly appellants in administrative hearings, appealing a state or federal
agencys denial, reduction, or termination of critical public assistance
benefits involving access to food, shelter, income, and health care. Appeals
of benefits like Unemployment Compensation, Workers Compensation,
Food Stamps, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
General Assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),
Medicaid, and Medicare often involve disabled individuals because
disability is frequently a prerequisite to eligibility for these benefits.89 The
law in these areas can be complex, involving federal and state statutes and
regulations and cases interpreting them. In addition, these hearings can be
counsel than other civil litigants, yet courts in the United States have been
reluctant to recognize this need. This reluctance follows a pattern of
incremental recognition of the right to counsel in both the criminal and civil
contexts. Even though the Sixth Amendment unequivocally guarantees the
right to counsel for criminal defendants, only those defendants charged with
capital offenses enjoyed the right prior to the 1930s.106 From the 1930s
through the 1960s, the Supreme Court expanded coverage, first by
recognizing the right to counsel for all federal defendants, then by
extending the right to defendants in state courts in specific situations.107
Appointment of counsel in civil matters, though lagging behind
appointment of counsel for criminal defendants, is not a new concept in the
United States. In 1948, Congress granted the federal courts statutory
authority to appoint counsel for indigent civil litigants.108 The Third Circuit
Court of Appeals interpreted 28 U.S.C. 1915 as affording district courts
broad discretion to determine whether appointment of counsel in a civil
case would be appropriate.109 The Third Circuit rejected several courts
interpretations that appointment of counsel in civil cases should be granted
only under exceptional circumstances.110 Yet even under the exceptional
circumstances analysis, courts have found that, in the balance of factors, the
standard was met to allow appointment of counsel. For example, the Fourth
Circuit found exceptional circumstances existed where the plaintiff lacked
education in legal matters, his incarceration status prevented contact with
witnesses, the testimony was conflicting, and the plaintiff lacked training in
cross-examination.111
In determining whether a district court should order appointment of
counsel, the Third Circuit articulated a number of factors to consider,
without reference to the stringent exceptional circumstances standard.112
The threshold consideration here is whether the plaintiffs claims have
arguable merit in fact and law.113 If the court determines a claim has
sufficient merit, then it must consider factors regarding the plaintiffs ability
to present her case, such as education, literacy, prior work experience, and
These ADA arguments may never be made for those most in need unless
an organized approach to evaluating a litigants need for an accommodation
and a referral system is in place to get representation for disabled clients.
Yet, finding the litigants that need an attorney accommodation may be
difficult because of the very nature of their disabilities. Litigants whose
disabilities cause them to be too confused or weak to forward their causes in
court may also be unable to ask the court, effectively, for legal
representation. Furthermore, because of their disabling conditions, these
litigants are also unlikely to be able to put forth the sophisticated legal
arguments required to make the case for an attorney accommodation. How,
then, will these cases be brought to the attention of legal services providers
who can then make these arguments on behalf of clients?
Advocates for the disabled should take a more proactive and organized
approach in identifying these clients and providing this accommodation by
meeting with court personnel, administrative agency management, and
judges to discuss these issues. Additionally, ADA coordinators in the
courts and in administrative agencies should be assigned the task of
evaluating the need for an attorney accommodation and creating an internal
appeal process for challenging an accommodation denial in the same way
other disability accommodations are evaluated and appealed.
Judges and administrative hearing officersthe people who may be in
the best position to initially identify whether a litigant needs an attorney
accommodationshould be trained to identify and refer litigants to
courthouse ADA coordinators for arranging representation. Courts and
administrative agencies must then develop contracts with legal services
providers to supply legal representation in these cases.
Before such a system is in place, non-profit legal services organizations
may have to create a caller-screening system to identify clients to represent
solely for the purpose of arguing for attorney accommodation in their legal
disputes. Such screening systems are already being developed to find
appropriate plaintiffs to bring litigation to establish a general civil
Gideon.138 To make the argument for an attorney accommodation for
disabled litigants who come to the attention of providers through a
screening process, legal services organizations, advocacy groups for the
elderly and disabled, or pro bono attorneys might have to make special
appearances in identified cases, appearing for the sole purpose of arguing
for an ADA accommodation.
Making a limited appearance, however, has inherent dangers. In a recent
Maryland case, the argument that a free lawyer must be provided to all lowincome civil litigants under the Maryland Constitution was raised.
Although the court did not reach the merits of the issue, it did comment that
Ms. Frase, as noted, is well represented by counsel in this appeal, and there
is no assurance that, should any further litigation be brought by or against
Ms. Frase, she would not be represented in that litigation.139 Further, the
court noted that it would not make the assumption that the five attorneys
and numerous pro bono organizations that specially appeared in the case to
argue for civil Gideon would then abandon her, should she need further
representation on the underlying merits of her case.140 Therefore, courts
may, as did the Maryland Court of Appeals, ignore the special appearance
and require that the attorney provide representation in the underlying case.
Advocacy groups and justice systems must address these issues regarding
client identification and referral so that those litigants who need
representation are served. No isolated group can address these issues
effectively. To solve these issues, courts, administrative agencies, nonprofit legal service organizations, bar associations, pro bono attorneys, and
advocacy groups for the disabled must work together to obtain meaningful
results.
V. CONCLUSION
With full civil Gideon still on the distant horizon, advocates should use
the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act to argue that appointed counsel is
necessary for civil litigants with certain disabilities. Both state and federal
courts are required to make their services equally accessible to those with
disabilities. Currently, neither courts nor administrative hearings are
accessible for those whose disabilities impair their capacity either to
understand or to partake in the proceedings. Although alternative aids or
services might be appropriate for some of these litigants, others will require
attorney representation.
Appointed counsel for these civil litigants is not only appropriate but also
reasonable. The number of these litigants is relatively small when
compared to the total number of indigent civil litigants in the country. The
costs seem even smaller compared with the almost certain loss of crucial
needs, such as food, housing, income benefits, and property if the litigant is
without attorney representation. Moreover, greater loss accrues from
citizens lost faith in the justice system. With all the major European
nations and the European Court of Human Rights granting free attorney
representation in civil cases, the United States must be able to protect its
most vulnerable civil litigants: those whose disabilities prevent them from
understanding or fully participating in judicial and administrative
proceedings.
Advocates and the justice system, working together, can remedy this
problem. By focusing on the true meaning of the ADAs requirement of
reasonable accommodation, the bench and bar can devise methods for
screening and evaluating clients, creating contracts in order to represent
them, and devising systems for administering and evaluating the program.
Only then will civil litigants with certain disabilities have real access to the
justice system.
Lisa Brodoff, Clinical Professor of Law, and Susan McClellan, Legal Writing
Professor, both teach at Seattle University School of Law; Elizabeth Anderson is a 2003
graduate of Seattle University School of Law. The authors wish to thank Sarabeth Zemel
for her editorial assistance and law librarian Stephanie Wilson for her extraordinary
research skills and support.
2
Civil Gideon is a term used to describe efforts to establish a right to counsel in civil
cases. The case that established this right in the criminal context was Gideon v.
Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963). Anthony Lewis popularized Mr. Gideons story in his
book Gideons Trumpet. ANTHONY LEWIS, GIDEONS TRUMPET (Vintage Books, 1989)
(1966).
3
See, e.g., Earl Johnson, Jr., Will Gideons Trumpet Sound a New Melody? The
Globalization of Constitutional Values and Its Implications for a Right to Equal Justice
in Civil Cases, 2 SEATTLE J. SOC. JUST. 201 (2003) [hereinafter New Melody?] (the
author has served as a Justice for the California Court of Appeal since 1982); Earl
Johnson, Jr., Equal Access to Justice: Comparing Access to Justice in the United States
and Other Industrial Democracies, 24 FORDHAM INTL L.J. 83 (2000); Robert W. Sweet,
Civil Gideon and Confidence in a Just Society, 17 YALE L. & POLY REV. 503 (1998);
Deborah Perluss, Washingtons Constitutional Right to Counsel in Civil Cases: Access to
Justice v. Fundamental Interest, 2 SEATTLE J. SOC. JUST. 571 (2004).
4
Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 34243 (1963) and its progeny (see, e.g.,
Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. 25 (1972) (extending right to counsel to misdemeanor
cases); Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 49091 (1964) (extending right to counsel to
uncharged suspect); Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353, 35758 (1963) (extending right
to counsel to direct appeals)).
13
27
Id. 12131.
Id. 1218112189.
29
Id. 12181.
30
47 U.S.C. 225 (2000).
31
42 U.S.C. 12132 (2000).
32
42 U.S.C. 12143 (2000).
33
The ADA defines public entities to include state and local governments and any
department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality of a state or local
government. 42 U.S.C. 12131(1).
34
42 U.S.C. 12132 (2000).
35
See, e.g., Soto, 72 F. Supp. 2d at 49495 (holding that a wedding ceremony performed
in municipal court is a service within the meaning of the ADA). See also Saunders v.
Horn, 960 F. Supp. 893, 899 (E.D. Pa. 1997) (finding that management of court systems
is a state or local responsibility of great importance that is routinely understood to be
covered by the ADA); Galloway, 816 F. Supp. at 18 (holding that a court system is a
public entity under the ADA); People v. Caldwell, 603 N.Y.S.2d 713, 714 (N.Y. Crim.
Ct. 1993) (finding that the court system, as a government entity, is required pursuant to
the ADA to make all of its services, programs, and activities available to qualified
individuals with disabilities). The Department of Justice regulations state that the ADAs
coverage extends to all services . . . made available by public entities. 28 C.F.R.
35.102(a) (2003).
36
29 U.S.C. 701796l (2000).
37
See Duvall, 260 F.3d at 113536; McDonald v. Com. of Mass., 901 F.Supp. 471, 478
(D. Mass. 1995); Helen L. v. DiDario, 46 F.3d 325, 330 (3d Cir. 1995).
38
Sec. 504 provides, No otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely
by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving
Federal financial assistance. 29 U.S.C. 794.
39
Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA impose identical requirements.
Lincoln Cercpac v. Health & Hosps. Corp., 147 F.3d 165, 167 (2d Cir. 1998).
40
The remainder of the article refers primarily to state courts and the ADA, but the
analysis applies equally in federal courts.
41
Lane, 315 F.3d 680.
42
Adam Cohen, Can Disabled People Be Forced to Crawl Up the Courthouse Steps?,
N.Y. TIMES, Jan. 11, 2004, 4 (Editorial Desk), at 14.
43
Lane, 315 F.3d at 682.
44
WASH. REV. CODE 49.60.010.401 (2002).
45
WASH. REV. CODE 49.60.030(1) (2002).
46
Id.
47
WASH. REV. CODE 49.60.030(1)(b) (2002).
48
See, e.g., Fell v. Spokane Transit Auth., 911 P.2d 1319, 1328 (Wash. 1996).
49
42 U.S.C. 12132 (2000). See also Duvall, 260 F.3d at 1135 (citing Weinreich v.
L.A. County Metro. Transp. Auth., 114 F.3d 976, 978 (9th Cir. 1997)).
50
See, e.g., Duvall, 260 F.3d at 1139; Soto, 72 F. Supp. 2d at 495.
51
42 U.S.C. 12102(2) (2000); see also Duvall, 260 F.3d at 1135.
28
52
69
89
dations should also be required for hearings involving DSHS administered public
benefits.
98
See OFFICE OF ADMIN. HEARINGS, Your Hearing Rights in a DSHS Case, OAH
pamphlet #100, DSHS pamphlet #22-092, at http://www.oah.wa.gov/shs_appeals_en.pdf
(last visited on Mar. 29, 2004). The pamphlet tells appellants to contact the OAH office
listed on their Notice of Hearing to arrange for accommodations in the hearing. Id. at 4.
99
For example, in SSI and Social Security administrative hearings, the only obligation
of the Social Security Administration is to inform the appellant of the right to have legal
representation at the hearing, but there is no right to have it provided free of charge and
no requirement that the appellant appear with only a licensed attorney. See Frank v.
Chater, 924 F.Supp. 416, 422, (E.D.N.Y. 1996) ([a]s an initial matter, it is necessary to
clarify what the cases in this and other Circuits casually refer to as the right to
representation in a benefits proceeding. This right does not rise to constitutional
dimensions.); see, e.g., Brandyburg v. Sullivan, 959 F.2d 555, 562 (5th Cir.1992) (citing
Clark, 652 F.2d at 403) (The Supreme Court has never recognized a constitutional right
to counsel at a SSA hearing.); Evangelista v. Secretary of Health & Human Servs., 826
F.2d 136, 142 (1st Cir.1987) ([T]he applicable standard in these nonadversarial
proceedings is well below the Sixth Amendment threshold.). As a result, HHS is not
obligated to provide counsel for the claimant, see Lopez, 728 F.2d at 149, or even to
guarantee the availability of free legal services. Clark, 652 F.2d at 403. Rather, the
right to representation articulated in these cases refers to a claimants freedom to
choose to be represented by counsel in a benefits proceeding.
100
For DSHS hearings, see WASH. ADMIN. CODE 388-02-0155: Who represents you
during the hearing process?
(1) You may represent yourself or have anyone represent you, except a DSHS
employee.
(2) Your representative may be a friend, relative, community advocate,
attorney, or paralegal.
For Employment Security hearings, see WASH. ADMIN. CODE 192-04-110.
101
For example, in Washington State, the Administrative Procedures Act provides that
any party may be advised and represented at the partys own expense by counsel or, if
permitted by provision of law, other representative (emphasis added). WASH. REV.
CODE 34.05.428(2) (2002). Therefore, unless an agency specifically authorizes the use
of non-attorney representatives, it appears that only attorneys can act. Some Washington
state agencies do allow for lay representation. See, e.g., DSHS, WASH. ADMIN. CODE
388-02-0155 (2003); Employment Security, WASH. ADMIN. CODE 192-04-110 (2003).
Other state agencies, however, essentially only allow for attorney representation. See,
e.g., Environmental Hearings Board Forest Practices Hearings, WASH. ADMIN. CODE
223-08-050 (2003); Pollution Control Hearings, WASH. ADMIN. CODE 371-08-365
(2003); Shoreline Hearings, WASH. ADMIN. CODE 461-08-385 (2003).
102
On the federal level, in Social Security, SSI, and Medicare hearings held before Social
Security Administration ALJs, the federal regulations covering these hearings allow for
lay representation. See 20 C.F.R. 404.1705, 416.1505 (2003).
103
Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254, 261 (1970) (finding that the due process right
includes the right to a fair hearing for public assistance denials, using brutal needs to
describe access to food, clothing, shelter, income, and health care). For qualified
recipients, welfare provides the means to obtain essential food, clothing, housing, and
medical care. Thus the crucial factor in this context . . . is that termination of aid pending
resolution of a controversy over eligibility may deprive an eligible recipient of the very
means by which to live while he waits. Since he lacks independent resources, his
situation becomes immediately desperate. His need to concentrate upon finding the
means for daily subsistence, in turn, adversely affects his ability to seek redress from the
welfare bureaucracy. Id. at 264.
104
Courts agree that attorney representation in the context of establishing eligibility for
SSI and Social Security Disability can be critical to obtaining benefits. See Frank, 924 F.
Supp. at 42728:
The potential benefits of having counsel at a benefits proceeding are well
recognized. Indeed, the heightened duty placed on the ALJ by this Circuit is
an attempt to compensate for the disadvantage of proceeding without counsel.
. . . The high rate of remand may well be a function of the fact that, [u]nder
our system of adjudication, no hearing officer (or judge) will ever be an
equivalent substitute for a lawyer devoted exclusively to a partys interests.
Cases such as the present one will repeatedly arise until the legal services bar
translates into action the now commonplace observation that agency cases are
usually won or lost at the agency level.
See also Guzman v. Califano, 480 F.Supp. 735, 737 (1979).
105
See Joan Grace Ritchey, Limits on Justice: The United States Failure to Recognize a
Right to Counsel in Civil Litigation, 79 WASH. U. L.Q. 317, 33132, 33638 (2001);
Johnson, New Melody?, supra note 3 at 22229 (comparing the legal bases for the right
to appointment of counsel in European countries with those in the United States).
106
Ritchey, supra note 105, at 31819.
107
Id. at 323.
108
28 U.S.C. 1915(a) (2004).
109
See Tabron v. Grace, 6 F.3d 147, 153 (3d Cir. 1993); see also McKeever v. Israel, 689
F.2d 1315, 1318 (7th Cir. 1982); United States v. McQuade, 579 F.2d 1180, 1181 (9th
Cir. 1978).
110
Tabron, 6 F.3d at 155 (stating that nothing in this clear language [of the statute]
suggests that appointment is permissible only in some limited set of circumstances. Nor
have we found any indication in the legislative history of the provision to support such a
limitation. The court refers to 28 U.S.C. 1915(d) (2000) the court may request an
attorney to represent any such person unable to afford counsel.)
111
Whisenant v. Yuam, 739 F.2d 160, 163 (4th Cir. 1984); see also Franklin v. Murphy,
745 F.2d 1221 (9th Cir. 1984).
112
Tabron, 6 F.3d at 153.
113
Id. at 155.
114
Id. at 156.
115
Id.
116
Ackridge v. Comm. Dept of Human Servs., 5 Natl Disability Law Rep. 236 (E.D.
Pa. May 5, 1994).
117
Id.
118
Id.
42 U.S.C. 2000e2000e17 (2000).
120
42 U.S.C. 2000e-5(f)(1). See also Bindra & Ben-Cohen, supra note 83, at 22
(discussing the statute and subsequent case law).
121
Bindra & Ben-Cohen, supra note 83, at 22 (discussing, primarily, Brown v.
Continental Can Co., 765 F.2d 810, 814 (9th Cir. 1985)).
122
Id. at 2223. The authors reason that if a plaintiff proficiently presents the merits of
the case, the court will deny counsel because the plaintiff is competent. On the other
hand, if the plaintiff inadequately presents the merits, the court will conclude that the
case is frivolous and deny counsel. Id. While the latter proposition is true, under factor
three, the first proposition is not necessarily true. In applying the three-factor test, as
articulated in Brown, courts do not address the plaintiffs competence. If the plaintiff can
show financial need, inability to obtain counsel, and a meritorious case, then the court
should appoint counsel in employment discrimination cases regardless of the plaintiffs
competence. For cases brought under other statutes or constitutional provisions,
however, the authors point is well-taken, as illustrated in their discussion of Fowler v.
Jones, 899 F.2d 1088, 1096 (11th Cir. 1990). In Fowler, the Eleventh Circuit applied an
exceptional circumstances test in denying a prison inmate appointed counsel in his civil
rights suit against prison officials.
123
Ritchey, supra note 105, at 33132.
124
Id. at 333.
125
Id. at 33436.
126
Id. at 332.
127
Johnson, Toward Equal Justice, supra note 75, at 218.
128
Johnson, New Melody?, supra note 3, at 22326.
129
Id. at 22324.
130
See Lawrence v. Texas, 123 S. Ct. 2472 (2003).
131
Johnson, New Melody?, supra note 3, at 224.
132
See Ritchey, supra note 105, at 332 (the United States is the only major Western
nation that does not provide a right to counsel in civil matters, (quoting Earl Johnson,
Jr., The Right to Counsel in Civil Cases: An International Perspective, 19 LOY. L.A. L.
REV. 341, 35255 (1985))).
133
Id. at 338.
134
Id.
135
Id. But note that some states do provide counsel in similar situations. See, e.g.,
WASH. R. APP. P. 15.2 (providing the right of appointed counsel for indigents in
commitment proceedings under WASH. REV. CODE 71.05, 71.09 (2002) and for
dependency and termination of parental rights cases under WASH. REV. CODE 13.34).
136
Ritchey, supra note 105, at 338.
137
Id.
138
See CIRCLE manifesto: The Coalition for Indigent Representation and Civil Legal
Equality (CIRCLE) is comprised of individuals who are committed to the principle of
equal justice for all as fundamental to the system of justice in the state of Washington.
Memorandum from the Coalition for Indigent and Civil Legal Equality (CIRCLE), to all
119
Equal Justice Legal Service Providers; CIRCLE Case Identification Information Form
used to identify potential clients (on file with Seattle Journal for Social Justice).
139
Frase, 840 A.2d at 130.
140
Id.
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/brain_injury_leads_to_suspension_for_maine_lawyer_i_couldnt_stick_to_tasks/?utm_source=maestro&utm_...
Legal Ethics
Brain injury leads to suspension for Maine lawyer; I couldnt stick to tasks, he
says
Posted Jun 25, 2014 5:45 AM CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A Maine lawyer says he can no longer function effectively as a trial lawyer and he agrees with his indefinite suspension, imposed by
a Maine Supreme Judicial Court justice on May 27.
Newport lawyer Dale Thistle, 66, attributes his problems to a traumatic brain injury caused by a November 2011 car accident,
CentralMaine.com reports. Complaints made to the bar about his handling of cases are serious and meritorious and directly stem
from my brain injury, he told the publication. I even self-reported a misfiling in federal court.
Thistle says his intelligence is intact but his ability to perform executive functions is impaired. He suffers from minor seizures and
small blackouts. I couldnt organize my day-to-day life, he told CentralMaine.com. I couldnt stick to the tasks. Its just the result o
the brain injury.
The Bangor Daily News calls Thistle a well-known lawyer in its earlier coverage of the suspension. He represented a former
Newport official accused of embezzlement, a 14-year-old girl accused of stabbing her aunt 106 times, and class-action clients who
claimed they were illegally strip-searched at the Knox County jail.
Thistle can regain his license if his condition improves, but hes not optimistic. I have no plans at the moment, he told
CentralMaine.com. I dont know what Im going to do."
Copyright 2014 American Bar Association. All rights reserved.
STATE OF MAINE
By filing dated May 27,2014, the Board of Overseers of the Bar (the
Board) petitioned this Court for
al
F Thistle
for disability-related reasons from the practice of iaw in the State of Maine.
Included with the Board's Petition was a Confidentia-l Affrdavit of Bar Counsel.
For good cause shown by the Board., Dale F. Thistle, Esq. appears to be a
disabled attorney; as a result, he has comrnitted apparent vioiations of the
Maine Rules of Professional conduct, thereby serving as a threat to ciients, the
o"t a,
1/,{,(.rl ?8,.
RECEIVE
JUN 0 6
?nt/
Ellen Go
Maine
Justice
Court
r"""
?01
r""JiJ[""?[i?
http://bangordailynews.com/2014/06/09/news/augusta/newport-lawyer-suspended-from-practice-because-of-disability/print/
Cindy Dunton of Newburgh sits in the courtroom with her attorney Dale Thistle during her sentencing at the Penobscot Judicial
Center in Bangor in this July 2011 file photo.
AUGUSTA, Maine A well-known Newport lawyer has been suspended from the practice of law
because of a disability, according to the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar.
Dale Thistle, 66, was suspended indefinitely on May 27, according to information released Monday
by the board.
The nature of his disability was not disclosed.
Thistles order of suspension, signed by Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Ellen Gorman, said
that he appears to be a disabled attorney; as a result, he has committed apparent violations of the
Maine Rules of Professional conduct, thereby serving as a threat to clients, the public and to the
administration of justice.
His practice was placed into a receivership to be overseen by Michael A. Wiers, 65, of Hartland. He
is to deal with Thistles clients and report to the court about the financial shape of the practice,
http://bangordailynews.com/2014/06/09/news/augusta/newport-lawyer-suspended-from-practice-because-of-disability/print/
http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/06/20/newport-lawyer-agrees-with-his-suspension-over-disability-concerns/
PRESSHERALD
MAINETODAY
25, 2014
Public Notices WEDNESDAY JUNESUBSCRIBE:
KENNEBEC JOURNAL
MORNING SENTINEL
67 LIGHT RAIN
High: 70 | Low: 63
FIVE DAY FORECAST
HOME
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SPORTS
OPINION
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NEWS
Posted June 20
BY DOUG HARLOW
COMMUNITY
REAL ESTATE
Updated June 20
STAFF W RITER
dharlow@centralmaine.com
| @Doug_Harlow | 207-612-2367
LIFESTYLE
OBITUARIES
INDEX
INCREASE FONT SIZE
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http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/06/20/newport-lawyer-agrees-with-his-suspension-over-disability-concerns/
NEWS
Newport lawyer Dale Thistle that he finally reported himself to the state Board of
Overseers of the Bar.
That report and other complaints about his work led to Thistles indefinite
suspension from practice by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court this month.
Complaints to the bar included Thistles alleged mishandling of a divorce case, real
estate litigation that took too long and on a couple of occasions, misspeaking to the
judge in the courtroom.
ADDIT IONAL IMAGES
In
Ou
ou
you
regeneration of the broken nerves, but from a redirection of the brains activity. The
http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/06/20/newport-lawyer-agrees-with-his-suspension-over-disability-concerns/
NEWS
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NEXT IN NEWS
We recently told you that you met the medical requirements to receive Social
Security benefits. Now we are writing to tell you that you meet the other
requirements. Therefore you qualify for monthly disability benefits from Social
Security beginning July 1992.
However, we cannot pay you for July 1992 through July 1993.
The Date You Became Disabled
We found that you became disabled under our rules on January 17, 1992. This is
different from the date given on the application.
Also, you have to be disabled for 5 full calendar months in a row before you can
be entitled to benefits. For these reasons, your first month of entitlement to
benefits is July 1992.
What We Will Pay And When
You will receive $1,185.00 for August 1993 around September 3, 1993.
Your Benefits
We raised your monthly benefit amount beginning December 1992 because the
cost of living increased.
Enclosure(s):
Pub 05-10072
Pub 05-10153
. 160-52-5117HA
Page 2 of 3
Besides the money we are sending you now, you may be due some more Social
Security money for July 1992 through July 1993. We must first subtract the
amount of your Supplemental Security Income payments for some or all of these
months from the Social Security money you are due. When we figure the
amount we have to subtract, we will send another letter to show how it was
done. If you are still due some money after the subtraction, we will also send
you a check.
Other Social Security Benefits
The benefit described in this letter is the only one you can receive from Social
Security. If you think that you might qualify for another kind of Social Security
benefit in the future, you will have to file another application.
Do You Disagree With The Decision?
If you think we are wrong, you have the right to appeal. A person who did not
make the first decision will decide your case. We will correct any mistakes. We
will review those parts of the decision which you believe are wrong and will look
at any new facts you have. We may also review those parts which you believe
are correct and may make them unfavorable or less favorable to you.
The 60 days start the day after you receive this letter.
You must have a good reason if you wait more than 60 days to ask for an
appeal.
The doctors and other trained personnel who decided that you are disabled expect
your health to improve. Therefore, we will review your case in July 1994. We
will send you a letter before we start the review. Based on that review, your
benefits will continue if you are still disabled, but will end if no longer disabled.
For you to be considered disabled under our rules, your health problems must
keep you from doing not only your usual work, but also any other kind of
substantial gainful work.
Also, you must meet this requirement at the same time when you have earned
enough credits for work under Social Security. The last date when you will have
earned enough credits is December 1994.
Please read the enclosed pamphlet, "How You Earn Social Security Credits,"
which explains how the credits are earned and how many a person needs to
receive benefits.
Page 3 of 3
160-52-5117HA
Your Responsibilities
The decisions we made on your claim are based on information you gave us. If
this information changes, it could affect your benefits. For this reason, it is
important that you report changes to us right away.
We have enclosed a pamphlet, "When You Get Social Security Disability
Benefits...What You Need To Know." It will tell you what must be reported and
how to report. Please be sure to read the parts of the pamphlet which explain
what to do if you go to work or if your health improves.
If You Want Help With Your Appeal
You can have a friend, lawyer or someone else help you. There are groups that
can help you find a lawyer or give you free legal services if you qualify. There
are also lawyers who do not charge unless you win your appeal. Your local Social
Security office has a list of groups that can help you with your appeal.
If you get someone to help you, you should let us know. If you hire someone, we
must approve the fee before he or she can collect it. And if you hire a lawyer, we
will withhold up to 25 percent of any past due benefits to pay toward the fee.
If You Have Any Questions
If you have any questions, call us toll free at 1-800-772-1213. We can answer
most questions over the phone. You can also write or visit any Social Security
office. The office that serves your area is located at:
DISTRICT OFFICE
898 30TH AVE NORTH
ST PETERSBURG, FL 33704
If you do call or visit an office, please have this letter with you. It will help us
answer your questions.
Cl . ~ ~
//~~q
Louis D. Enoff
Acting Commissioner
of Social Security
Case: 12-11213
Date Filed:
(1 of 43)
08/09/2012
Page: 1 of 42
Case: 12-11213
Date Filed:
(19 of08/09/2012
43)
Page: 19 of 42
Case: 12-11213
Date Filed:
(20 of08/09/2012
43)
Page: 20 of 42
Case: 12-11213
Date Filed:
(21 of08/09/2012
43)
Page: 21 of 42
.~
,.'
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o Oral Surgery Clinic 326 N. 16th St.
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o Feinstein Bldg. 216 N. Broad St.
o
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DATE
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Page 1 of 3
Neil Gillespie
From:
To:
Cc:
Sent:
Attach:
Subject:
Thank you. I already submitted my ADA request on the attached form I just found from last year. Neil J. Gillespie.
----- Original Message ----From: Fagan, Grace
To: Neil Gillespie ; Gordon, Tameka
Cc: Greg Harrell (GHarrell@marioncountyclerk.org)
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2014 10:59 AM
Subject: RE: Public records; request for ADA/disability Accommodation
Mr. Gillespie,
A response from or on behalf of Chief Judge Briggs will be forthcoming.
Judge Stancil may not have a page dedicated to his office practices. It is an optional feature that is available for use by each
individual Judge within their sole discretion.
The link to the ADA request form has been repaired. Thank you for bringing the problem to the Courts attention.
The remainder of this email does not appear to request judicial branch records and therefore requires no further response on my
part or on behalf of the Court.
Grace
2/9/2015
Page 2 of 3
The American Bar Association (ABA) recently added a "Civil Right to Counsel" page, "Law Governing Appointment of Counsel in State Civil
Proceedings", http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/initiatives/civil_right_to_counsel.html
with 50 research reports, one for each state (link to Florida)
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/ls_sclaid_judges_manual_fl.authcheckdam.pdf
detailing existing authority for appointment of counsel in various types of civil proceedings, such as,
Law Addressing Authorization or Requirement to Appoint Counsel in
Specific Types of Civil Proceedings
1. SHELTER
Federal Statutes and Court Decisions Interpreting Statutes
The federal Fair Housing Act, contained within Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968,
provides that "[a]n aggrieved person may commence a civil action in an appropriate United
States district court or State court." 42 U.S.C. 3613 (a)(1)(A). Further, "[u]pon application
by a person alleging a discriminatory housing practice or a person against whom such a practice
is alleged, the court may-- (1) appoint an attorney for such person." 42 U.S.C. 3613(b).
Also see page 16, Fla. Stat. 29.007 (2011) ("Court-appointed counsel"). This section applies in any situation in which the court appoints counsel
to protect a litigants due process rights.
There is an Appendix: International Law Relating to Appointment of Counsel in Civil Proceedings.
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/ls_sclaid_judges_manual_appendix.authcheckdam.pdf
Sandy DAlemberte wrote in Tributaries of Justice: The Search For Full Access, 25 Fla. St. U. L. Rev 631, Section V. Tributary Four, "Some court
opinions hint that access to legal representation in civil cases might be a constitutional entitlement. footnote 58, See In re Amendments to Rules
Regulating The Florida Bar1-3.1(a) and Rules of Judicial Administration2.065 (Legal Aid), 598 So. 2d 41, 43 (Fla. 1992) (noting that "the
right to counsel is no longer limited to criminal cases")" http://www.law.fsu.edu/journals/lawreview/downloads/253/dalember.pdf
The U.S. Eleventh Circuit has a duty and authority to make a Non-Criminal Justice Act Counsel Appointment. The U.S. Eleventh Circuit adopted
provisions for furnishing representation for persons financially unable to obtain adequate representation in cases and situations which do not fall
within the scope of 18 U.S.C. 3006A, as amended -- but in which the court believes that the interests of justice will be served by the presence of
counsel.
See Addendum Five, U.S. Eleventh Circuit, Rev.: 8/07, found online,
http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/attorney-info/criminal-justice-act
http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/courtdocs/clk/RulesAddendum05AUG07.pdf
ADDENDUM FIVE
NON-CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT COUNSEL APPOINTMENTS
The court adopts these provisions for furnishing representation for persons financially unable to obtain adequate representation in cases and
situations which do not fall within the scope of 18 U.S.C. 3006A, as amended but in which the court believes that the interests of justice will be
served by the presence of counsel.
10A Fla. Jur 2d Constitutional Law 480. The guaranty of due process of law extends to every type of legal proceeding. Pelle v. Diners Club, 287
So. 2d 737 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 3d Dist. 1974); Tomayko v. Thomas, 143 So. 2d 227 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 3d Dist. 1962). Whenever life, liberty, or
property rights are involved in any official action, the organic requirements of due process of law must be afforded, whether such action is the
exercise of the powers of government by governmental departments, State ex rel. Barancik v. Gates, 134 So. 2d 497 (Fla. 1961); Williams v. Kelly,
133 Fla. 244, 182 So. 881 (1938) or a duly authorized administrative or ministerial function or duty. State ex rel. Barancik v. Gates. The
constitutional guaranty of due process of law applies not only to court and administrative procedures, but also to legislative acts. Williams v. U.S.,
179 F.2d 644 (5th Cir. 1950), cert. granted, 340 U.S. 849, 71 S. Ct. 77, 95 L. Ed. 622 (1950) and judgment aff'd, 341 U.S. 70, 71 S. Ct. 581, 95 L.
Ed. 758 (1951) (implied overruling on other grounds recognized by, U.S. v. McDermott, 918 F.2d 319 (2d Cir. 1990)) and (overruling on other
grounds recognized by, Brzonkala v. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 169 F.3d 820, 136 Ed. Law Rep. 15 (4th Cir. 1999)).
10A Fla. Jur 2d Constitutional Law 483. Due process encompasses both substantive and procedural due process. McKinney v. Pate, 20 F.3d 1550
(11th Cir. 1994); M.W. v. Davis, 756 So. 2d 90, 25 Fla. L. Weekly S334 (Fla. 2000); State v. O.C., 748 So. 2d 945, 24 Fla. L. Weekly S425 (Fla.
1999).
Thank you in advance for the courtesy of a reply.
Neil J. Gillespie
8092 SW 115th Loop
Ocala, Florida 34481
Email: neilgillespie@mfi.net
Telephone: 352-854-7807
----- Original Message ----From: Fagan, Grace
To: neilgillespie@mfi.net
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 2:24 PM
Subject: FW: Public records request to Grace Fagan, General Counsel Fifth Judicial Circuit; and by US mail to Lake County Judicial Center, PO Box 7800,
Tavares, FL 32778-7800
Mr. Gillespie
Please see the attached response to your public records request. A hard copy will follow via US Mail.
2/9/2015
Page 3 of 3
Grace A. Fagan
Grace A. Fagan, Esquire
General Counsel
for the Fifth Judicial Circuit
Lake County Courthouse
(352) 253-1615
Hernando County Courthouse
(352) 754-4860
gfagan@circuit5.org
NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY
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sender by reply E-mail and immediately delete this message from your system.
2/9/2015
RIGHT TO AN ACCOMMODATION
If you are an individual with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in
a court proceeding or other court service, program, or activity, you are entitled, at no cost to
you, to the provision of certain assistance. Requests for accommodations may be presented on
this form, in another written format, or orally. Please complete the attached form and return it
to the following:
Citrus County John Sullivan, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Ave, Inverness, Fl,
34450, phone 352-341-6700, fax 352-341-7008, jsullivan@circuit5.org
Hernando County-Peggy Welch, Hernando County Courthouse, 20 N. Main Street, Brooksville,
FL 34601, phone 352-754-4402, fax 352-754-4035, pwelch@circuit5.org
Lake County-Nicole Berg, Lake County Judicial Center, PO Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778, phone
352-253-1604, fax 352-253-1630, nberg@circuit5.org
Marion County-Tameka Gordon, Marion County Judicial Center, 110 NW 1st Ave, Ocala, FL
34475, phone 352-401-3710, fax 352-401-7883, tgordon@circuit5.org
Sumter County-Lorna Barker, Sumter County Judicial Complex, 225 E. McCollum Ave, Bushnell,
FL 33513, phone 352-569-6012, fax 352-569-6098, lbarker@circuit5.org
This should be done as far in advance as possible, but preferably at least seven (7) days before
your scheduled court appearance or other court activity.
Upon request by a qualified individual with a disability, this document will be made
available in an alternate format. If you need assistance in completing this form due
to your disability, or to request this document in an alternate format, please contact
Citrus County John Sullivan, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Ave, Inverness, Fl,
34450, phone 352-341-6700, fax 352-341-7008, jsullivan@circuit5.org
This form was developed for use by individuals with disabilities who may require a
modification in a policy, provision of an auxiliary aid or service, or assignment to an accessible
location in order to participate in a court proceeding or other court service, program, or activity
that is covered by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Court employees with
disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation to be able to perform the essential
functions of their jobs should contact their immediate supervisor, the ADA coordinator for their
court, the OSCA Office of Personnel Services, or the State Courts ADA Coordinator.
10
Accommodations that are granted by the state courts are made at no cost to qualified
individuals with disabilities. 2
Please note that providing accommodations for some individuals with disabilities who appear
in the courtroom as part of their employment duties or professional practice is a responsibility
that appropriately may be shared by the individuals employer and the courts. Title I of the
Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers of 15 or more employees and Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act requires all state and local government employers to provide
reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities. In addition, Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, covers recipients of federal funding, and
requires all covered organizations to provide accommodations for their employees. These
responsibilities are concomitant with the courts responsibility under Title II of the ADA. It is to
everyones benefit when employers and the court system work together to ensure that
reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided in the most efficient
and cost effective manner.
Florida State Courts System
Page 2
Additionally, the courts cannot administratively grant, as an ADA accommodation, requests that
impact court procedures within a specific case. Requests for an extension of time, a change of
venue, or participation in court proceedings by telephone or videoconferencing must be
submitted by written motion to the presiding judge as part of the case. The judge may consider
an individuals disability, along with other relevant factors, in granting or denying the motion.
Furthermore, the court cannot exceed the law in granting a request for an accommodation. For
example, the court cannot extend the statute of limitations for filing an action because
someone claims that he or she could not make it to the court on time due to a disability, nor
can the court modify the terms of agreements among parties as an ADA accommodation.
Finally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require the court system to take any
action that would fundamentally alter the nature of court programs, services, or activities, or
that would impose an undue financial or administrative burden on the courts.
Page 3
This should be done as far in advance as possible, but preferably at least seven (7)
days before your scheduled court appearance or other court activity.
12
10
2014
1. Date request submitted: ______/______/______
2. Person needing accommodation
Neil J. Gillespie
Name: _________________________________________________________________
Are you (please check one of the following seven options):
[ ] Defendant
[] Litigant/Party
[ ] Witness
[ ] Juror
[ ] Victim
[ ] Attorney
n/a
Name: _________________________________________________________________
n/a
Telephone Number (include area code): ______________________________________
n/a
Email Address: __________________________________________________________
n/a
Relationship to person needing an accommodation: ____________________________
Page 4
2013-CA-000115 or 42-2013-CA-000115-AXXX-XX
Case number, if known: __________________________________________________
Hon. Hale Stancil
Judge, if known: ________________________________________________________
Hearing Dec-18-2014 and duration of this case
Date accommodation needed: ______________________________________________
The hearing is 10:00 AM
Time accommodation needed: ______________________________________________
County Judicial
Location (courthouse/courtroom) accommodation needed: Marion
_______________________
[ ] circuit criminal
[ ] circuit civil
[ ] small claim
[ ] family court
[ ] county criminal
[ ] county civil
home foreclosure
[] other (please specify) HECM
____________________
Type of proceeding, if known (please check one of the following six options):
[ ] arraignment
[ ] bond hearing
[ ] hearing
[ ] trial
6. Accommodations requested
TBI traumatic brain injury, see
Nature of disability that necessitates accommodation: ___________________________
Amended Disability Motion, US 11th Circuit, 12-11213-C, Neil J Gillespie copy available
________________________________________________________________________
Page 5
"The ADA: One Avenue to Appointed Counsel Before a Full Civil Gideon,"
________________________________________________________________________
Seattle Journal for Social Justice: Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 30, copy on request.
________________________________________________________________________
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-325, ADAAA), also see
________________________________________________________________________
Amended Disability Motion, US 11th Circuit, 12-11213-C, Neil J Gillespie copy available
________________________________________________________________________
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
Page 6
Page 7
DIRECTORY
SUPREME COURT
Mr. Ty Berdeaux
Marshal
300 South Beach Street
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Phone:
386-947-1544
FAX:
386-947-1565
1st CIRCUIT
2nd CIRCUIT
Page 1
11
3rd CIRCUIT
Ms. Carrina Cooper
Court Operations Consultant
173 N.E. Hernando St., Room 408
Lake City, FL 32056-1569
Phone:
386-758-2163
Fax:
386-758-2162
4th CIRCUIT
Mr. James W. Ivey
Court Facilities Manager
Fourth Judicial Circuit
330 E. Bay Street, Suite 507-C
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone:
904-630-1897
Fax:
904-357-5930
6th CIRCUIT
5th CIRCUIT
7th CIRCUIT
8th CIRCUIT
Page 2
9th CIRCUIT
12th CIRCUIT
13th CIRCUIT
10th CIRCUIT
14th CIRCUIT
11th CIRCUIT
Ms. Maria E. Mihaic
Human Resources Division
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center
175 N.W. 1st Avenue, Suite 2702
Miami, FL 33128
Phone:
305-349-7354
Fax:
305-349-7355
Page 3
15th CIRCUIT
Ms. Dominique T. March
Chief of Personnel Services
205 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone:
561-355-2154
Fax:
561-355-6711
19th CIRCUIT
Ms. Corrie Johnson
250 NW Country Club Drive, Suite 217
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986
Phone:
772-807-4383
Fax:
772-807-4377
16th CIRCUIT
Ms. Cheryl Alfonso
Court Operations Manager
502 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
Phone:
305-295-3652
Fax:
305-292-3435
20th CIRCUIT
Mr. Jim Sullivan
Operations Division Director
Administrative Office of the Courts
1700 Monroe Street, Suite 1213
Ft. Myers, FL 33901
Phone:
239-533-1521
Fax:
239-533-1757
17th CIRCUIT
Ms. Cheryl Anderson
201 S.E. 6th Street, Room 1000
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone:
954-831-7743
Fax:
954-831-5572
Page 4