Pennsylvania victory: Settlement agreement protects choice; VOR as Amicus

The Benjamin lawsuit was first filed in 2009 by the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania (Protection & Advocacy) on behalf of four residents of state ICF/IID homes who sought transfer to community homes.

In 2010, the families of 9 residents of state ICF/IID homes, represented by Michael Rato and Ben Hoffart (Sidley Austin, LLP), and Carl Solano (Schnader Attorneys at Law) on behalf of his sister, appealed a District Court order denying intervention in the pre-remedy/settlement stage of the litigation. VOR, represented by Lesli Esposito (DLA Piper, LLP) filed its first Amicus brief in support families bid for intervention.

The Third Circuit affirmed the District Court’s denial of intervention.

In 2011, the plaintiffs and the State (defendants) negotiated a settlement that created a risk that hundreds of other ICF/IID residents who did not wish to be transferred would be relocated even though they, their families, and their guardians opposed that result and believed it would deprive them of access to optimal care.

Families again appealed to the Third Circuit, this objecting to the denying the motions to intervene that they filed in connection with the remedy stage of the litigation as well as from the District Court’s subsequent order granting final approval to the settlement agreement between Plaintiffs and Defendants. VOR again participated as Amicus, represented by Nancy Rappaport and Lesli Esposito, filing a brief in support of family intervenes and joined by 92 supporting families. In response, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned approval of the 2011 settlement agreement and order denying intervention.

Intervention set the stage for a negotiated a new settlement that protected the rights of all ICF/IID residents to choose to remain under ICF/IID care or to opt to relocate and that created substantial procedural safeguards governing both options. The agreement assures that ICF/IID placement may be maintained for those needing a higher level of care than may be obtained outside the institutions.

VOR expresses sincere appreciation to the attorneys for intervention and VOR as Amicus. All worked pro bono; intervening attorneys did receive a deserving award of attorney fees as part of the order approving the new settlement.