Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
1401 New York Avenue, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005

For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Kim Alton
(202) 662-8600
June 16,2006

Federal Court Rules that FEMA is not Above Reach of Law

(Washington, DC) - The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights is pleased that U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. issued an opinion today that affirms the rights of hurricane survivors to sue FEMA for its failure to provide housing assistance.

“We brought this lawsuit last year because FEMA failed miserably in performing its duties. Although the court denied some of the evacuees' claims, this case forced FEMA to take many positive steps and corrective actions that have benefited those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” said John C. Brittain, Chief Counsel of the Lawyers' Committee.

“We are disappointed that despite the opinion's frequent harsh criticism of FEMA, Judge Duval rejected the claims of our clients,” added Brittain.

The decision by the district court referenced FEMA's inadequate response numerous times noting that, “Rather than hiding behind bureaucratic double-talk, obscure regulations, outdated computer programs, and politically loaded platitudes such as 'people need to take care of themselves,' as the face of the federal government in the aftermath of Katrina, FEMA's goal should have been to foster an environment of openness and honesty with all Americans affected by the disaster.”

“We are also pleased that the decision clarifies that a SBA Loan application is not required in order to obtain temporary housing assistance,” said Brittain.

Today's ruling was in response to a class action lawsuit filed in November by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights along with the New York law firm of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP; John Pierre, Attorney and Professor at Southern University Law Center; the Public Interest Law Project; and the Equal Justice Society.
The Lawyers' Committee continues to advocate on behalf of those displaced by last year's storms.

The Lawyers' Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights legal organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to provide legal services to address racial discrimination.

For more information on the Lawyers' Committee, visit us at www.lawyerscommittee.org

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