Girl Scout who is Deaf Has Bias Case against Girl Scouts Org., 7th Circuit Finds

Courthouse News Service | By JACK BOUBOUSHIAN | May 12, 2015

CHICAGO (CN) - The move by the Girl Scouts to stop providing deaf members with sign-language interpreters supports disability-discrimination claims, the 7th Circuit ruled. Megan Runnion, now 15 years old, is deaf. She was able to participate in Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana for many years, however, because the organization provided a sign-language interpreter. When the Girl Scouts stopped providing interpreters and Megan's mother complained, Megan's entire troop was disbanded. The Runnions in turn filed suit, alleging violations of the Rehabilitation Act, which provides that no disabled individual shall be excluded from a program receiving federal funding on the basis of his or her disability. Though a federal judge ruled that the Girl Scouts are not subject to the Rehabilitation Act, the 7th Circuit reversed Friday. "Megan's proposed amended complaint alleges plausibly that the Girl Scouts are a private organization principally engaged in the business of providing the services found in § 794(b)(3)(A)(ii)," which include education, health care, housing, social services, or parks and recreation, Judge David Hamilton wrote for the three-judge panel. Congress may have exempted private membership organizations from similar statutes, but the Rehabilitation Act does not include any such explicit exemption for private entities, according to the ruling. "Beyond merely alleging that the Girl Scouts received federal funds and were engaged in some of those activities as their principal business activities, which would have been sufficient for pleading purposes, the proposed amended complaint went much further," Hamilton said. "Megan's complaint cites numerous instances in which the defendant has characterized itself and its programs as educational." The court was careful to note that the appeal does not address whether the Girl Scouts must supply sign-language interpretation if the Rehabilitation Act applies to the organization. Rather, "the disputed issue on the merits of this appeal is whether Megan alleged sufficiently that the activities from which she was excluded are covered under the Rehabilitation Act by virtue of the Girl Scouts receiving federal funding," Hamilton wrote. The Chicago-based appeals court found that the Rehabilitation Act plausibly applies to the Girl Scouts organization, and Megan's case may proceed. DOC: http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/05/12/girlscouts.pdf http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/05/12/deaf-girl-scout-has-bias-case-7th-circuit-finds.htm ### Statement from Equip for Equality, who is part of the legal team representing Megan Runnion. Appeals Court Rules Girl Scouts is Covered by Federal Disability Discrimination Law CHICAGO – May 13, 2015 – The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday, May 8, 2015, that the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana is subject to federal disability discrimination law under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The federal lawsuit was filed on August 2, 2012, by Megan Runnion, who is deaf and was 12 years old at the time. Megan was seeking to secure an American Sign Language interpreter for meetings of her Girl Scout troop. For the six years that Megan was involved with her Girl Scout troop, the Girl Scouts provided a sign language interpreter for troop meetings and outings. Megan’s mother renewed the request for the interpreter in 2011, but the Girl Scouts denied her request. Rather than providing the requested interpreter services, Megan’s troop was disbanded. The lawsuit was dismissed on October 26, 2012, when the Girl Scouts argued that the organization was not covered under the Rehabilitation Act. But on Friday, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the Northern District of Illinois’ decision and found that private membership organizations that receive federal funds, such as the Girl Scouts, are covered by federal disability discrimination law. According to Steven P. Blonder, lead counsel in the case and a principal at Chicago-based law firm Much Shelist (which is handling the case on a pro bono basis) the decision confirms that private membership organizations, such as the Girl Scouts, are included in the anti-discrimination provisions of the Rehabilitation Act, regardless of whether professionals or volunteers are playing key roles. It also defines what it means to be principally engaged in social service or educational programs. “The opinion confirms that private organizations that receive federal funding are prohibited from discriminating against people with disabilities,” said Blonder. “We are pleased that the Seventh Circuit has confirmed this important principle and we can now focus on the underlying discrimination that our client experienced.” “Megan was heartbroken that she could no longer participate in Girl Scouts,” said Edie Runnion, Megan’s mother. “We are thrilled that Megan’s case can finally go forward and set a precedent for other children who have disabilities and want to stay active in scouting and other similar organizations.” “We filed this case nearly three years ago and it is gratifying that we now have a definitive decision that the Girl Scouts cannot discriminate against its members with disabilities,” said Barry Taylor, Vice President of Civil Rights and Systemic Advocacy at Equip for Equality and co-counsel for Megan. “The Girl Scouts’ policy is discriminatory on its face, and we look forward to rectifying the injustice this policy caused our client.”   Equip for Equality attorneys Laura Miller, Amanda Antholt and Rachel Arfa are also representing Megan. “The Girl Scouts’ refusal to provide interpreter services not only violates federal law, but also is contrary to the founding principles of the Girl Scouts,” said Howard A. Rosenblum, an attorney and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of the Deaf, which is serving as co-counsel. “Ironically, Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, herself became deaf later in life and she welcomed girls of all abilities at a time when they were excluded from many other activities.” Marc Charmatz and Debra Patkin are the attorneys at NAD representing Megan. The United States Department of Justice, which interprets and enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, filed a brief with the Seventh Circuit supporting Megan’s argument that the Girl Scouts is covered by federal disability anti-discrimination law. # # # Reference: U.S Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Case No. 14-1729 Runnion v. Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Below are links to relevant court documents: Seventh Circuit’s Decision Runnion Complaint Runnion Appellate Brief U.S. Department of Justice Brief Girl Scouts Response Brief Runnion Reply Brief http://www.equipforequality.org/news-item/appeals-court-rules-girl-scouts-is-covered-by-federal-disability-discrimination-law/