WASHINGTON LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE UPDATE VOL. 9, NO. 1 FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND URBAN AFFAIRS SPRING 2003 Former Residents Sue Winarsky, Sky Properties In March 2003, the Fair Housing Project filed Dalle, et al. v. Winarsky, a Fair Housing Act case against Winarsky and Sky Properties, in the federal district court for the District of Maryland.

The case involves three

Photo credit: Chris Buonocore, Morgan Lewis, Applications Support Group African-American former residents of an apartment building in Committee Fair Housing Project Director Reed N. Colfax, at podium, announces filings of Myrtle Beach race discrimination cases at May 20 press conference. Front Takoma Park owned and man- row L/R: Plaintiffs Craig Williams; Washica Little; Michael Little; and the Reverend aged by Lewis Winarsky of Sky H. H. Singleton, President of NAACP Conway, SC Branch. Back row: Attorney Paul Properties. The complaint filed Hurst, Steptoe & Johnson. with the Equal Rights Center asserts that when Winarsky bought Myrtle Beach Race their building every unit was occupied by blacks, but that within Discrimination Cases Filed months Winarsky had evicted all of the blacks except one and re- On May 20, 2003, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee leased the apartments to whites. along with six law firms filed complaints alleging widespread race The one remaining black lived in a discrimination in Myrtle Beach, , by restaurants, a downstairs unit accessible only hotel, and the police during an annual event attended primarily by through a side-door entrance. . Each year in May, two large motorcycle rallies are held in the Myrtle Beach area. In mid-May, hundreds of thou- When asked why he sands of predominately white Harley Davidson riders come to Myrtle evicted all the blacks, Winarsky Beach for “Harley Week.” The Myrtle Beach government, business, stated that they were late in their and community leaders welcome the Harley riders with promotions, continued on page 4 specials, and discounts to encourage attendance during Harley Week. A week later over the Memorial Day Weekend, a similar number of Inside this issue ... black motorcyclists attend a similar Black Bike Week rally in the Major Settlements ...... 3, 5, 6, 7 Myrtle Beach area. Restaurants with “Welcome Bikers” signs out New Cases ...... 3, 4, 5, 6 continued on page 6 Arrivals ...... 9 WASHINGTON LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE

Johnson and former colleague at number of firms, such as Sidley & Corner the Justice Department, to serve Austin and Kirkland & Ellis, are as our Committee’s first Chair. providing to Parents United for the John’s outstanding leadership D.C. Public Schools. brought together the distinguished group of bar leaders and law firms As the Committee pre- that to this day are among the pares to celebrate its 35th Anni-

Rod Boggs Committee’s greatest assets. This versary, we wish to thank all of the initial group of founders defined firms and individual volunteers

Director’s the Committee’s mission to who have contributed so much to encompass not just issues of race, our organization’s programs over but also poverty and other forms the years. We invite all who share The publication of this of discrimination. our goals to join us in the work Update coincides with the cel- that remains to be done. ebration of the Washington This issue of the Update Lawyers’ Committee’s 35th illustrates both the breadth and Anniversary. It thus provides a depth of the Committee programs good opportunity to reflect on the that the founders’ vision has Contributors Committee’s evolving mission and produced. Of particular note are some of the individuals who were the combined efforts of Steptoe & Nearly 100 firms and over 300 individuals contributed to the present at the Committee’s Johnson; Morgan, Lewis & Washington Lawyers’ Committee’s creation. Bockius; and Patton, Boggs to 2002 funding drive. In addition, the join the NAACP in a series of Committee thanks the following No two individuals cases challenging discrimination corporations, foundations and other deserve more recognition for their faced by African-American organizations for their contributions contributions than Judge Louis F. motorcyclists in Myrtle Beach, and commitments: Oberdorfer and John Nolan. It South Carolina. The Myrtle was Judge Oberdorfer’s inspired Beach cases illustrate the • Black Entertainment Television, Inc. vision in 1968, while a partner at Committee’s special ability to • The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering and supplement the resources of small Foundation Co-Chair of the National Law- firms to level the playing field for • Chartered Health Plan, Inc. yers’ Committee for Civil Rights, plaintiffs in large, complex civil • D.C. Bar Foundation that led to the formation of the rights cases. • Fannie Mae Foundation Washington Committee. The • Freddie Mac Foundation Washington Committee was to be The growing scope of the • Georgetown University Law Center – part of a national effort to mobilize Committee’s work is also seen in Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program leading lawyers in urban centers the decision of three new firms— • Kiplinger Foundation across the country to address Winston & Strawn; Bracewell & • Anthony Lucas-Spindletop issues of racial discrimination that Patterson; and Mayer, Brown, Foundation had been identified as causes of Rowe & Maw—to work with • George Preston Marshall Foundation the civil unrest that had erupted in local D.C. public schools as part • The Network of Educators on the cities throughout the nation during of the Committee’s Law Firm Americas, Inc. the mid-1960’s. Partnership Program. The tutor- • Public Welfare Foundation ing, mentoring, and other services • Reich Family Foundation The Washington Commit- now provided by hundreds of • The Washington Post tee was especially fortunate that Committee volunteers to children • George Wasserman Family Judge Oberdorfer chose John at 38 local schools is greatly Foundation Nolan, a partner at Steptoe & strengthened by the support that a

Page 2 SPRING 2003 UPDATE

Equal Employment Opportunity

Utility Sued Church Employee Library of Congress for Racial Files Sexual Sexual Harassment Discrimination Harassment Suit Case Settles In February 2003, the The Committee and The Washington Lawyers’ Washington Lawyers’ Committee, Shearman & Sterling recently Committee, along with Miller & filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Chevalier, recently settled a for Montgomery County on behalf former music director of a sexual harassment and retaliatory of Paul Fenwick, alleging that Lutheran church in Maryland who constructive discharge case on Southern Maryland Electric was sexually harassed and retali- behalf of a uniformed officer in Cooperative (SMECO) subjected ated against by her employer. The the Library of Congress Police him to racial harassment, disparate defendants filed a motion to Department who was forced to treatment and retaliation under dismiss contending that the First resign under a threat of immediate Title VII and Section 1981. Amendment immunizes the church termination. The order to resign and its officials from liability under or be fired followed on the heels The complaint alleges that anti-discrimination laws. of the officer’s attempts to stop Paul Fenwick, a long-term em- the sexual harassment, which ployee of SMECO, for years The motion raised an issue included hostile and lewd com- toiled in a racially hostile atmo- of first impression under Maryland ments and requests for sexual sphere where racial epithets and law – whether sexual harassment favors that she and other female threatening conduct toward and related tort claims brought by officers endured at the hands of African-American employees church employees are cognizable, her direct supervisor. were commonplace. For many notwithstanding the First years, the human resources Amendment’s protection of church The parties settled the department and management autonomy and prohibitions on matter soon after the complaint ignored his discrimination com- excessive entanglement. The was filed. The officer will receive plaints. Eventually, Mr. Fenwick Committee, along with Shearman a payment of $120,000, and was was terminated. Mr. Fenwick was & Sterling, filed an opposition to reinstated to her position with full ordered reinstated through union the brief, and a hearing on the seniority and accrued benefits. arbitration. However, he was motion took place on March 10. discriminatorily transferred to a The judge denied defendants’ remote company location in an motion to dismiss as to the major- effort to force his resignation, and ity of the plaintiff’s most important denied transfers into positions for claims, including sexual harassment which he has the greatest seniority. and intentional infliction of emo- tional distress. The parties have Co-counsel in the case is exchanged written discovery, and Steptoe & Johnson. are in the process of taking depositions.

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Fair Housing

trator required the certificate of occupancy and ticketed the home because it was occupied by persons with disabilities. In April 2003, the federal district court for the District of Columbia granted Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, finding that the chal- lenged zoning ordinance was facially discriminatory and discriminatorily applied to Plaintiffs because of the disabilities of the residents.

L/R: Vera Lee Liban, Executive Director, Equal Rights Center; Peto Igbukolu, client; Emille Dalle, client; Joseph Ngangum, Developer Sued For client; Reed N. Colfax, Fair Housing Project Director, Washing- Discriminating ton Lawyers’ Committee. Against Families With Children Sky Properties (continued from page 1) Homeless at Friendship Place rental payments and that he had to (“CCHFP”). The move-in On February 13, 2003, do major repairs to the building. occurred despite extensive the Fair Housing Project, along The residents, however, had not opposition by some other resi- with co-counsel Gibson, Dunn been late in their rental payments dents of the neighborhood and the & Crutcher, filed a housing and Winarsky did no real repairs D.C. Zoning Administrator’s discrimination complaint in the before he rented the apartment to decision to require the home to federal district court for the whites. obtain a certificate of occupancy. When the men moved into the District of Columbia on behalf of home, the District of Columbia Veralee Liban. Ms. Liban and her Court Finds D.C. Department of Consumer and family sought to purchase a home Regulatory Affairs (“DCRA”) in the Greenwich Park develop- Zoning Ordinance ticketed CCHFP for allowing the ment in Hagerstown, Maryland, Discriminatory home to be occupied without a being built by the Churchey certificate of occupancy. Group. Ms. Liban was told by In September 2001, five the Churchey Group’s on-site formerly homeless men with mental In October 2001, the Fair agent that the development was disabilities moved into a single- Housing Project and co-counsel designed for “empty nesters” and family residential home in North- Shaw Pittman filed suit under the that the “vision” for the develop- west D.C., owned by the Commu- Fair Housing Act on behalf of ment was a community for retired nity Housing Trust (“CHT”) and CHT and CCHFP alleging that persons and seniors whose the Community Council for the DCRA and the Zoning Adminis- continued on page 10

Page 4 SPRING 2003 UPDATE

Disability Rights

Deaf Patient, Family Dollar Wheelchair-Bound Refused Vision Care, Stores Settle Shopper, Stranded Awarded Damages Accessibility Claims During Evacuation, Sues Marshalls, Mall In April 2001, the Disabil- The Disability Rights ity Rights Project, with co-counsel Project, with co-counsel Hunton & Williams, filed a McDermott, Will & Emery, complaint on behalf of Garth successfully negotiated a settle- Alexander and the Disability Rights ment agreement with Family Council of Greater Washington Dollar Stores (FDS), a discount (DRC) against United Optical in retailer, in the District of Columbia the U.S. District Court for the in March 2003 on behalf of District of Columbia. The com- shoppers who are blind or use plaint alleged that Mr. Alexander, wheelchairs. Through this settle- who is deaf, asked his wife, who is ment, FDS will commit to hearing, to call and make an changes in over 4,000 stores of appointment for him with the vision its fast-growing chain, which adds care services office covered by his hundreds more stores annually. health insurance. When his wife called, she was informed that her The settlement includes Katie Savage before the stairs that husband could not be seen because important requirements, as well as prevented her evacuation from City of his deafness. The staff explained payment of damages and attorney Place Mall. that deaf patients take too long, fees. The requirements include and upon request put the refusal in conducting an accessibility survey The Disability Rights writing. and removing exterior barriers; Project, with co-counsel Hogan removing structural barriers, and & Hartson, filed a complaint on In November 2002, after a changes in site development February 27, 2003, in the Circuit two-day trial before Judge James procedures. As FDS is adding Court for Montgomery County on Robertson, a jury awarded Mr. over 500 new stores this year continued on page 10 Alexander $19,119 in damages. alone, this could have a big Judge Robertson determined that impact on accessibility in hun- Deaf Patient Sues the co-plaintiff DRC had standing dreds of strip malls yearly. In Hospital for Lack of to seek injunctive relief in the addition, FDS will maintain matter. The Judge declined, how- accessible fixture spacing in Interpreter Services ever, to issue an injunction, based regional stores, with a goal of The Disability Rights on his finding that there was no such spacing in nonregional Council of Greater Washington actual and immediate threat that stores; establish standards and (DRC) and a deaf patient, Garth DRC members would experience continued on page 10 Alexander, filed suit on January 3, this discrimination at the hands of continued on page 10 United Optical again.

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SPRING 2003 UPDATE

Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Policy Denying Car encouraged to apply while Latino Lerner, Simon & Salzman, filed Loan to Permanent testers arriving on the same day a charge of discrimination with the were told that no units were EEOC on Ms. Bonilla’s behalf in Resident Investigated available. October 2002. The settlement, reached in April 2003, will result in In July 2001, Emil Ivanov, The Fair Housing Project, a payment of more than $30,000 a permanent resident of the United in cooperation with the Immigrant to Ms. Bonilla. The settlement also States originally from Bulgaria, and Refugee Rights Project, filed provided for payment of attorney sought a car refinance loan from an administrative complaint with fees. Pathfinder Credit Union. Path- the District of Columbia Office of finder refused to provide a loan to Human Rights (DCOHR) on Mr. Ivanov pursuant to an official behalf of the ERC in February Participating Firms Aid Pathfinder policy of not extending 2003. The DCOHR has begun its Juveniles Seeking credit to non-citizens. investigation of the matter. Refuge in United States

Believing that the policy Cleaning Company Several law firms have violated Section 1981, the Immi- Settles Latina worked over the past year with grant and Refugee Rights and Fair the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Housing Projects jointly investi- Janitor’s Claim Project on eight cases involving gated the matter and achieved a The Committee reached a juveniles. The juveniles are seeking settlement for the client. favorable settlement recently in refuge in the United States from proceedings before the Equal war, persecution, and violence in Complaint Cites Employment Opportunity Commis- their home countries. The firms, Differential Treatment sion on behalf of a Latina janitor, including King & Spaulding; Ms. Rosa Bonilla, who had suffered Steptoe & Johnson; Swidler of Latinos Seeking severe harassment at the hands of a Berlin Shereff Friedman; and Housing supervisor at Centennial One, Inc., Weil, Gotshal & Manges, have the large cleaning company where assisted juveniles from Cameroon, When the Equal Rights she worked in suburban Maryland. El Salvador, and Sierra Leone Center (ERC) received a com- After Ms. Bonilla, an immigrant seeking political asylum and plaint that Latinos were unable to from El Salvador, succeeded in related relief. The cases have rent or purchase apartments at the forcing the company to dismiss the involved such challenging legal Spirit of W Cooperative in D.C., harassing supervisor, she faced theories as imputed political it sent out white and Latino testers reprisals ending with her termination opinion and the existence of a seeking information regarding in July 2002. particular social group encom- availability of units at the building. passing youth affected by gang The testers were subjected to The EEO Project, work- violence. differential treatment, including ing jointly with the Immigrant and some of the white testers being Refugee Rights Project and the law In addition, Patton told that units were available and firm of Heller, Huron, Chertkof, Boggs has recently worked on continued on page 11

Page 7 WASHINGTON LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE

Public Education

Myth & Reality and economic disadvantages; (2) overall state and local funding for Report DCPS falls below per pupil funding of all but one of the The Washington Law- surrounding suburban districts, yers’ Committee recently re- and in inflation-adjusted dollars is leased a report entitled: “D.C. about equal to FY 1991 per pupil Public School Funding: Myth & funding levels; (3) DCPS spends Reality.” The report was pre- no more and in several cases School Partnership Discussion Board pared for Parents United for the considerably less than surrounding D.C. Public Schools and a school systems on central office will also be using the board to special Advisory Committee of functions; and (4) approximately seek information on upcoming Civic Leaders by the Washington 80% of funding increases sought Project and school-related events. Lawyers’ Committee and volun- for DCPS in FY 2004 are allo- teers at the law firm of Sidley, cated to mandatory items, prima- Austin, Brown and Wood. Committee rily negotiated pay increases and emergency building programs. Welcomes New The Advisory Committee The bulk of remaining proposed members were Maudine R. Law Firm/Public increases cover basic academic Cooper, President of the Greater initiatives and management reforms. School Partnerships Washington Urban League; Ronald S. Flagg, partner at The Washington Lawyers’ Sidley, Austin, Brown and Committee welcomed three new Wood; James O. Gibson, Senior Partnerships law firm/public school partner- Fellow at the Center for the Benefit from ships to the Public Education Study of Social Policy; James W. Legal Services Project at the April Jones, a Director of Hildebrandt On-Line 2003 Partnership Coordinators International, a management Discussion Board lunch meeting held at Akin Gump consulting firm for the legal Strauss Hauer & Feld. The law industry; and Richard W. Partnership coordinators firm of Winston & Strawn has Snowdon, III, partner with the now have an opportunity to teamed up to provide pro bono law firm of Trainum, Snowdon communicate with one another legal work for the Kamit Institute, & Deane. through the School Partnership a public charter school in the Project’s newest feature—the District. Bracewell & Patterson The report focused on School Partnership Internet has begun a new partnership with four principal findings: (1) an Discussion Board. In November Van Ness Elementary School. increasing and overwhelming 2002, participating law firm Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw is majority of DCPS students coordinators and volunteers began currently planning its new tutoring require supplemental support using the Discussion Board for and mentoring partnership with based on limited English profi- posting tips and news about school Gage Eckington Elementary ciency, special education needs partnership activities. Partnerships School.

Page 8 SPRING 2003 UPDATE

Arrivals

New Board late litigation, strategic counseling, ronmental Law Committee, legislative redistricting, and gov- Section of International Law & Members ernment relations. Prior to joining Practice. O’Melveny, he served in a number The Washington Lawyers’ of federal government positions, Daniel H. Bromberg, a Committee recently welcomed including Assistant to the Presi- Jones Day trial and appellate four new members to the board of dent, Chief of Staff and Counselor litigator, has argued before the directors: James W. Jones, Ronald to former Vice President Al Gore; U.S. Supreme Court and before A. Klain, Ignacia S. Moreno, and Chief of Staff and Counselor to state and federal appellate courts. Daniel H. Bromberg. Attorney General Janet Reno; and He has represented international Associate Counsel to the Presi- and domestic clients in commercial James W. Jones is a dent. He has also served as Chief disputes involving antitrust, arbitra- director of Hildebrandt Interna- Counsel to the U.S. Senate tion and employment at the trial tional, a global management Committee on the Judiciary. and appellate levels. He has also consulting firm to the legal industry. represented clients in suits against He has more than 30 years Ignacia S. Moreno, of the federal government involving experience as a law firm leader, counsel to Spriggs & such issues as the constitutionality practicing lawyer, and general Hollingsworth, specializes in of federal legislation, takings, the counsel. Among his prior posi- complex civil litigation, particularly validity of executive and adminis- tions, he served as Managing environmental and toxic tort trative actions, and civil rights Partner of Arnold & Porter. He litigation. Previously, she served in violations. He is a member of the is Chairman, Board of Directors of the Environment and Natural Edward Coke Appellate Inn of the Pro Bono Institute, and Co- Resources Division, U.S. Depart- Court and has published several Chairman, Advisory Committee ment of Justice, as Principal articles in law journals and with for the Community Economic Counsel on domestic and interna- the ABA. Development Program of the D.C. tional environmental enforcement Bar. He is also Chairman of the related to U.S. trade and invest- Board of Directors of the Eugene ment policies. She serves on the Visiting Fellows and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation; D.C. Bar’s Special Committee on a member of the Board of Trust- Multi-Jurisdictional Practice and Emily Goldberg, an ees of Trinity University in San on the Nominations Committee. Equal Justice Works (formerly Antonio, Texas; and a member of She is a past President of the NAPIL) Fellow sponsored by the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Bar Association of the Shearman & Sterling, is working Children’s National Medical District of Columbia. She has also for one year with the EEO Project Center. served as the ABA’s Vice-Chair at the Washington Lawyers’ for Programs, International Envi- Committee. She is a summa cum Ronald A. Klain is a ronmental Law Committee, laude graduate of Tufts University. partner in the Washington, D.C. Section of Environment, Energy She received her J.D. from New office of O’Melveny & Myers, and Resources, and as Vice-Chair with a practice focused on appel- of the ABA’s International Envi- continued on page 11

Page 9 WASHINGTON LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE

Churchey Group (continued from page 4) Family Dollar (continued from page 5) disabilities. As a result, Ms. Savage was forced to wait in the mall for children have left home. The specific programs to rid store nearly an hour, listening to alarms Churchey Group publicized its intent aisles of clutter that can make and sirens and fearing for her life, to sell homes only to families them inaccessible; create an ADA until an announcement finally was without children in advertisements in administrator position; train made that the emergency was over the Washington Post and on its employees and buyers; and and that the mall would re-open. Internet website. The advertise- establish a complaint procedure ments for the Greenwich Park and report complaints to the This case is among the first development stated in a bold title: Disability Rights Council of nationally on the important issue of “Gracious Homes for the Empty Greater Washington. emergency evacuation of people Nester.” Marshalls Mall (continued from page 5) with disabilities from retail estab- lishments. Ms. Liban alleges that she behalf of Katie Savage and the was discouraged by the discrimina- Disability Rights Council of Greater Interpreter Services (continued from page 5) tory advertisements for Greenwich Washington. Ms. Savage, who Park but still sought to purchase one uses a wheelchair, was stranded in 2003, in the U.S. District Court for of the homes. Ms. Liban’s experi- the City Place Mall during a the District of Maryland against Fort ence with the Churchey Group September 2002 emergency Washington Medical Center and the agent made it clear that she would evacuation. The lawsuit alleges that offices of an Oxon Hill physician. not be welcome in the development the plaintiff was effectively impris- The plaintiffs ask the Court to order with her three children. The oned in the mall during the evacua- the hospital and doctor’s offices to Churchey Group agent told Ms. tion, and that no provision was provide sign language interpreters to Liban that her children would not be made for safe evacuation of people deaf patients to ensure that they permitted to play in any of the with disabilities. understand medical communications. development’s common areas, The complaint also requests dam- stated that most of the residents On the morning of the ages for Mr. Alexander and the would be older and without chil- evacuation, Ms. Savage was DRC. Co-counsel with the Com- dren, refused to give Ms. Liban shopping at Marshalls in the City mittee is Morrison & Foerster. information that she requested about Place Mall when a fire alarm was the homes, and suggested that Ms. set off in the mall. Marshalls The complaint alleges that in Liban look at houses built by a announced that all shoppers were April 2002, Mr. Alexander, a patient competitor across the street. required to leave the store due to of Dr. Othman Baban and the an emergency, and Ms. Savage Washington Potency and Urology The lawsuit alleges that quickly made her way out of the Center, had surgery at Fort Wash- the Churchey Group’s actions store and into the mall interior. ington Medical Center. Although he violate the federal Fair Housing Panic began to spread throughout requested sign language interpreter Act and the D.C. Human Rights the mall as shoppers and staff fled services for his pre- and post- Act by discriminating against amid rumors of a bomb. Ms. operative medical appointments and families with children. Both laws Savage, however, was trapped. surgery, no interpreter services were prohibit actions that discourage Marshalls locked the gate that provided. As a result, Mr. or otherwise prevent families separated the store from the mall; Alexander did not understand the from purchasing homes because the mall elevator was shut down; medical communications and was not they have children, and prohibit no emergency exits were acces- able to convey his need for pain advertisements that express a sible; and no one from the mall or medications or understand important preference against families with Marshalls offered to assist in the information about his medical children. evacuation of customers with treatment.

Page 10 SPRING 2003 UPDATE

Myrtle Beach (continued from page 6) maintains its highest rental rates discrimination cases against during Black Bike Week. Presidential Cab, Standard Cab remodeling or a parking lot paving. Company, District Cab Company Finally, some close on one of the Assisting in the litigation of and Amritsar Auto Services busiest weekends of the year with these cases are D.C. law firms Company. no explanation. Baach Robinson & Lewis and Rose & Rose and the South The case against the Carolina law firm Derfner Juvenile refugees (continued from page 7) Myrtle Beach Police is led by Altman & Wilborn. Steptoe & Johnson. This case, two cases involving humanitarian filed in federal court alleging parole, a discretionary form of violations of the Equal Protection Taxi cab (continued from page 6) immigration relief. One case Clause of the U.S. Constitution, find an available taxi. As he allowed a woman from the alleges that the Myrtle Beach arrived, the doorman to the hotel Ukraine to reunite with her teen- Police adopt a traffic plan that was assisting a customer out of a age daughter after many years of limits traffic to one-way on the Your Way taxicab. The doorman separation. The second case primary Myrtle Beach thorough- saw Mr. Greene and attempted to allowed an infant to enter the U.S. fare and limits turns off that road in hold the cab for him. However, with her mother, who was granted an attempt to discourage black when the driver saw Mr. Greene, derivative asylum, thereby reunit- bikers from traveling into Myrtle who is African American, he sped ing the family. Beach or attending Black Bike away. Week at all. Any rational explana- Finally, the Project tion for the traffic plan fails in light Mr. Greene’s complaint continues to litigate, with Holland of the fact that a week earlier, alleged violations of the 42 U.S.C. & Knight, the civil rights claims it during Harley Week when a Sec. 1981, which prohibits filed against the INS and a local similar number of white bikers are discrimination in the making of Virginia jail on behalf of a in town, the road is open to two- contracts, the District of Columbia Guinean juvenile who has been way traffic and turns are generally Human Rights Act, and various held in INS detention centers for allowed off the road. common laws. the last two and a half years.

A final class of plaintiffs, After mediation, the whose lead counsel is Patton parties reached terms for a settle- Arrivals (continued from page 9) Boggs, allege that the Yachtsman ment. Hogan and Hartson Hotel severely alters the terms and served as co-counsel. York University School of Law, conditions for guests during Black where she was a member of the Bike Week because of the hotel This case represents the Review of Law & Social Change management’s stereotyped as- latest of a series of cases involving and worked with the NYU School sumption that blacks must be race discrimination by taxicab of Law Civil Rights Clinic. Before subject to more restrictive rules. drivers and companies that the coming to the Washington Law- Black Bike Week participants Committee has handled in the yers’ Committee, she was a have to sign a contract enumerat- greater Washington area. In recent Fellow with the National Women’s ing 34 rules and pay for their entire years, the Committee and co- Law Center. She is a member of stay at least 30 days before their counsel Crowell & Moring; the New Jersey Bar, and her bar arrival. Other times of the year, Clifford Chance Rogers & membership is pending in New eight basic rules apply and guests Wells; Baach, Robinson & York and the District of Columbia. pay for the entire cost of the room Lewis; and Hogan and Hartson at check-out. The Yachtsman also have brought successful taxicab continued on back page

Page 11 WASHINGTON LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE

Washington Lawyers’ Committee Arrivals (continued from page 9) for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs The Committee is very fortunate to UPDATE have Dechert attorney Scott McBride

Jeffrey D. Robinson spending six months working on our EEO David Cynamon Project as a part of Dechert’s loaned associ- Co-Chairs ate rotation program. Scott McBride is an Roderic V.O. Boggs Executive Director associate in the firm’s D.C. office where he Lois G. Williams Senior Counsel for Litigation and Communication works in mutual fund regulation and securities Susan E. Huhta, Project Director enforcement litigation. He graduated from Equal Employment Opportunity Project Reed N. Colfax, Project Director Georgetown University with a finance degree, Fair Housing Project E. Elaine Gardner, Project Director and from Georgetown University Law Center, Disability Rights Project where he was an author and senior editor of Denise L. Gilman, Project Director Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project Law and Policy in International Business. He Mary M. Levy, Project Director Public Education Reform Project is a member of the New York and New Iris J. Toyer, Project Director Public Education Legal Services Project Jersey Bars.

Update Staff Da’aga Hill Bowman, Editor Paula Jones, Layout

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