Before getting started on the blog entry of the week, a housekeeping matter, I am thinking that there may be one additional substantive blog for the rest of the year before I do the 2025 greatest hits. My thinking is that one more substantive blog entry after this will appear the week of December 8.
ADA and 504 as an Alternative to §1983 in Excessive Force Cases
By William Goren on
When the Federal Bar Association national convention was held in Kansas City Missouri, I was part of a panel that explored outside the box uses of the ADA. One of the panelist, Jamie Strawbridge, talked about how the ADA/504 can be an alterative to excessive force §1983 cases. The case of the week explores exactly…
Have no Idea as to Why Defense Side Attorneys Keep Defending on the Grounds that an ADA Disability Does Not Exist
By William Goren on
After the amendments to the ADA, it doesn’t make any sense for an attorney to defend on the grounds that a disability doesn’t exist, with a notable exception being where the major life activity of working is involved. It should be a rare situation where plaintiff alleges the major life activity of working considering all…
In Architectural Barrier Litigation, Plaintiff’s Motivation Doesn’t Matter if Plaintiff Has Transacted Business
By William Goren on
I am very regular about posting blog entries for the week. I have rarely missed doing that over the 14 years I have been doing this. I do have a good explanation for missing last week. My father died a week ago today, and I was away for funeral events. By any objective measure he…
Let’s Count the Ways Alcoholism is a Disability
By William Goren on
There is a lot of confusion out there about whether alcoholism is a disability. Illegal use of drugs gets exempted from the ADA but alcoholism is a different story. True, you can evaluate a person engaged in excessive use of alcohol in terms of performance as if the alcohol use doesn’t exist, but that is…
Eighth Amendment, Title II, and Nondelegable Duty
By William Goren on
Posted in 1983, 504, ADA, Constitutional law, Federal Cases, Final Federal Regulations, Rehabilitation Act, Title I
Today’s blog entry is a published decision from the Third Circuit, Montanez v. Price, here decided on October 8, 2025 (which was my birthday). It discusses a series of issues, including: the Eighth Amendment; what is a program, service, and/or activity; and nondelegable duty. More specifically, the blog entry is divided into the following categories…
Direct Evidence Cases do Exist and Other Good Stuff
By William Goren on
Today’s blog entry comes out of the Eighth Circuit, where just don’t see a lot of ADA cases. This case, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Drivers Management, LLC, is a published decision decided on July 10, 2025, and can be found here. The case explores several topics including: 1) direct evidence; 2) logistical undue…
Religious Freedom and Remote Work ADA Implications and the Latest With HUD and Animals in Housing
By William Goren on
Today’s blog entry is a two for one. First, we explore some stunning developments in the area of housing and animals when it comes to persons with disabilities. Second, we explore a memorandum opinion from DOJ to the acting chair of the EEOC when it comes to remote work as an accommodation for religious liberty…
Inflexible Return to Work Policies Can Cost You Big Time
By William Goren on
Before getting started on the blog entry for the week, I want to wish those who are celebrating a happy and healthy Jewish new year. The new year starts this evening and culminates with the day of atonement next week.
The case of the week is Granas v. Union Pacific Railroad Company out of…
How Not to do the Interactive Process
By William Goren on
I am back in the office after taking an Alaskan cruise with a side trip to Denali National Park. Both are absolute bucket lists. If you have not done both, I highly recommend it. The scenery in Alaska is something that cannot be easily explained. If you have only done the cruise, definitely worth going…