» Mobility plaintiffs, MTA mark conclusion of lawsuit

Mobility plaintiffs, MTA mark conclusion of lawsuit

Posted: 8:00 pm Wed, March 10, 2010
By Barbara Grzincic
Daily Record Managing Editor/Law

Lauren Young (background) smiles as fellow MDLC attorney Nancy Pineles hands a trophy to class representative Imani Graham, with daughter Arianna Fowlkes beside her. MTA Administrator Ralign Wells and class attorney Andrew D. Levy (right) also look on as both sides celebrate the end of the case.

Both sides in the long-running class action over paratransit services got together on Wednesday to celebrate its conclusion — an end many people thought occurred years ago.

When the $715,000 settlement was announced in 2006, the terms provided that a consultant would recommend improvements to the Maryland Transit Administration’s Mobility system and evaluate the state’s progress. The final issues were worked out late last year, according to Lauren Young of the Maryland Disability Law Center. Among them is allowing “door to door” service (rather than just curb to curb service); it is undergoing a test run now and should be in full operation by May, Young said. Wednesday’s celebration was at the law offices of Brown, Goldstein & Levy, which represented the class. On Monday, the governor’s office announced that class attorney Andrew D. Levy will head the Maryland Commission on Disabilities.