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This settlement is closed!
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Amtrak has agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle a lawsuit that alleged some of the transportation company’s stations aren’t compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The settlement benefits mobility-impaired individuals who were harmed due to accessibility issues at certain Amtrak stations between July 27, 2013, and Dec. 2, 2020. Claimants must also have lived at, visited, or wanted to visit a location closer to that station than an accessible, alternative Amtrak station during the same period.
Amtrak operates at about 500 stations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. A list of the stations covered by this ADA violations settlement is available on the settlement website.
The lawsuit, filed by the United States government, alleged Amtrak failed to make existing stations accessible to individuals with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs, as dictated by U.S. Department of Transportation standards, resulting in ADA violations.
The U.S. claimed these ADA violations harmed Amtrak passengers who have disabilities.
Amtrak has denied the allegations and claims it is committed to making accommodations for those with disabilities.
Both parties agreed it was in everyone’s best interest — including the public’s — that the matter be resolved through a settlement.
In addition to monetary relief, Amtrak also has agreed to take several steps to ensure stations are all up to ADA standards.
When the company builds a new station or alters an existing station, it will ensure the station is accessible to and usable by people who have disabilities.
Amtrak also has agreed to continue expanding the existing ADA Stations Program, including a rolling five-year strategic plan and a Sunset Analysis for the program.
The company will also complete ADA assessments for the stations affected by the settlement at which Amtrak is responsible, either fully or in part, by Dec. 31, 2022.
A number of other agreements related to avoiding ADA violations at Amtrak stations are also included in the settlement.
Compensation for Class Members will be in two tiers — one for claimants who lived closer to an “Issue Station” than a different Amtrak station, and one for those who traveled or were deterred from traveling to an “Issue Station” — and will be determined using a point system.
Compensation for claimants who are part of Tier 1 will be three times the amount for Tier 2 claimants (i.e., three points versus one point). No claimant will be entitled to more than three points.
The claims administrator will tally the points and determine the preliminary dollar amount per point by dividing the $2.25 million settlement fund amount by the number of total points.
If that preliminary point value is not more than $833.33, the preliminary point value will become the final point value. If it does exceed $833.33, the final point value will be reduced to $833.33.
Tier 1 claimants will receive the final point value multiplied by three, while Tier 2 claimants will receive an amount equal to the final point value.
Any remaining balance will be returned to Amtrak to be used for improvements under the ADA Stations Program.
The deadline to file a claim in the Amtrak ADA violations settlement is May 29, 2021.
Who’s Eligible
Mobility-impaired individuals who were harmed due to accessibility issues at certain Amtrak stations between July 27, 2013, and Dec. 2, 2020. Claimants must also have lived at, visited, or wanted to visit a location closer to that station than an accessible, alternative Amtrak station during the same period.
Potential Award
Varies.
Compensation for Class Members will be in two tiers — one for claimants who lived closer to an “Issue Station” than a different Amtrak station, and one for those who traveled or were deterred from traveling to an “Issue Station” — and will be determined using a point system.
- Compensation for claimants who are part of Tier 1 will be three times the amount for Tier 2 claimants (i.e., three points versus one point). No claimant will be entitled to more than three points.
- The claims administrator will tally the points and determine the preliminary dollar amount per point by dividing the $2.25 million settlement fund amount by the number of total points.
- If that preliminary point value is not more than $833.33, the preliminary point value will become the final point value. If it does exceed $833.33, the final point value will be reduced to $833.33.
- Tier 1 claimants will receive the final point value multiplied by three, while Tier 2 claimants will receive an amount equal to the final point value.
Proof of Purchase
Proof of purchase is not necessary in this settlement, but claimants are asked to file a claim form that includes residency and disability information. Documentation of the difficulties the claimant encountered when attempting to travel at one of the relevant Amtrak stations is encouraged if available, but not required.
Claim Form
NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.
Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Claim Form Deadline
05/29/2021
Case Name
United States of America v. The National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak), Case No. 1:20-cv-03505 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Final Hearing
N/A
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Amtrak Disability Settlement
C/O Rust Consulting Inc. – 7156
P.O. Box 54
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0054
1-888-334-6165
Fax: 1-866-665-8480
Info@amtrakdisabilitysettlement.com
Class Counsel
Michael R. Sherwin
Acting U.S. Attorney, District of Columbia
Daniel F. Van Horn
Chief, Civil Division
John C. Truong
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Eric S. Drieband
Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division
Cynthia M. McKnight
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division
Rebecca B. Bond
Chief
Kathleen P. Wolfe
Special Litigation Counsel
Kevin J. Kijewski
Deputy Chief, Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division
David W. Knight
Felicia L. Sadler
Trial attorneys, Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Defense Counsel
N/A
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354 thoughts onAmtrak Agrees to $2.25M Settlement Over Alleged ADA Violations
This person is clearly joking to rile people up! CHILL ! ! !
Does anyone know what Tier 3 is
I don’t think there is a Tier 3. is: Tier 1 claimants will receive the final point value multiplied by three, while Tier 2 claimants will receive an amount equal to the final point value.
They told me that I was a Tier 3. I’m not sure what that means
No such thing as tier 3.
Lou Jack, they may have meant 3 points, which would be tier 1.
Yep, I only seen one person who posted their a pic of there check in a FB group but she lives in Minn. Same state where the checks were mailed from.
Maximum payout on Amtrak was tier one, and tier one is $2499.99 so this makes no sense.
Blah blah blah, cry me a river ???
Lee tell your cousin Dee to let me hold $50 so I can get some name brand tp. This 1-ply isn’t cutting it anymore. ??
WELL I CALLED IM ON TIER 2 MY CHECK GOES OUT ON 10TH…SOMETIMES IT SEEMS FRAUDULENT PERSONS GET AHEAD BUT REALLY LOOK TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE END
They have to pay taxes on every bit over $600. It will catch up to them in the end. Greed only gets you so far. Play with the IRS and see what happens.
Does anyone know what Tier 3 is
There is no tier 3. Unless by that they mean denied. It states right up top what the tiers are, there’s only two.
Lou Jack, maybe they meant 3 points, which would be tier 1?
All you can do is report his information to the settlement administration and attorneys handling the cases. Their emails should be provided or can be easily googled. It sounds like a load of crap to me. He might be bragging about something he’s never gotten to make himself look like hot ?. Now if you’ve threatened to turn him in if he didn’t break you off some ? that’s extortion so make sure your jealousy doesn’t bite you in the backside.
He must of filed under a variety of different names to get that amount from this settlement. It is wrong to file claims that you are not apart of.. it takes away from a disabled person who has suffered and should be compensated.
Lmao a few million from class actions witness no proof? Bahahahaha, thanks for the laugh.
Lee my man that’s fake news. C N N may want to hear your story though, they love that b s
Amtrak payments are only $833 or 3 times that Amount which is $2,500. So there isn’t a way for him to get that much. Can’t believe everything people tell ya.
So the least amount you can receive is 833.00?
Yes, $833.33 but only roughly 1500 people were approved.
How do you know…only 1500 approved?
That seems very low for 2 million payout