On June 25, 2024, a group of Peoria residents with mobility disabilities filed a class action complaint against the City of Peoria, alleging widespread violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, details how year after year the city failed to provide accessible sidewalks and public spaces for individuals with mobility disabilities, including those who rely on wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
The plaintiffs, Donald Yarbrough, Willie Anderson, and Chris Mitchell have lived in Peoria for decades and seek to represent themselves and other individuals with disabilities who cannot access or navigate City sidewalks and pedestrian rights of way. After years of unlawful neglect, Peoria’s sidewalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian crossings remain riddled with barriers including broken and uneven surfaces, missing or inadequate curb ramps, and obstacles such as light poles and traffic signs improperly placed on sidewalks.
According to the complaint, in the 34 years since the passage of the ADA, Peoria has consistently failed to meet its obligations to fix these accessibility issues and to construct new curbs that comply with the ADA. The plaintiffs assert that this longstanding neglect has forced individuals with disabilities to navigate hazardous conditions or avoid public spaces altogether, thereby infringing upon their civil rights and perpetuating segregation.
The plaintiffs are represented by Jennifer M. Sender, of Hughes, Socol, Piers, Resnick & Dym, Ltd. (Chicago) Jennifer M. Sender – Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd. (hsplegal.com), Carl Reardon, Esq. (East Peoria), and Jim Rochford and Nina Gougis of Jim Rochford & Associates (Peoria) Attorneys -Rochford and Associates (peoriainjurylawcenter.com). Ms. Sender emphasized the significance of the lawsuit:
“The City of Peoria has a legal and moral obligation to ensure that all residents can safely and independently navigate public spaces. Our clients have been denied this fundamental right for far too long.”
The plaintiffs seek a comprehensive court order to compel Peoria to bring its pedestrian infrastructure into compliance with federal disability laws. They also seek to represent a class of individuals, estimated to be around 8,000 people, with mobility disabilities residing in Peoria who have encountered barriers within the past two years.
A copy of the complaint is available here.
