Rosario v. Goord

Plaintiffs, inmates of the New York State Department of Correctional Services (“DOCS”), brought this action against defendants alleging violations of Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq., and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794. The District Court for the Southern District of New York (Charles L. Brieant, Judge), in a Memorandum and Order dated September 24, 2003, dismissed the action based on its finding that plaintiffs had failed to exhaust their administrative remedies prior to filing suit as required by 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), because, though they had arguably exhausted internal prison grievance procedures, they had not lodged a complaint with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”). See 42 U.S.C. § 12134(a); 28 C.F.R. 35.170-178 (providing a complaint procedure for persons who believe they have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability by a public entity).

*109Plaintiffs appealed. After briefing was completed, defendants moved this Court to vacate the District Court’s order and remand the cause to the District Court for further proceedings. In their motion, defendants stated that they wished to withdraw the DOJ exhaustion defense in this action. They further represented that the defense will be withdrawn in any pending litigation in which liability against DOCS and its agents is asserted under the ADA and that DOCS does not now intend to assert the defense in any such future litigation. Plaintiffs consented to defendants’ motion, and, at oral argument on February 24, 2005, the parties agreed that this Court should grant defendants’ motion and vacate the District Court’s order. We find this disposition appropriate.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, we VACATE the judgment of the District Court and REMAND the cause for further proceedings consistent with this order.