By KRWG News
Texas – A proposed $24 million settlement would end a 1997 lawsuit challenging a $5 fee that Texas charged for disabled parking placards.
The Austin American-Statesman reported Wednesday that the settlement to the class action lawsuit, filed against the Department of Transportation, faces final approval from a federal judge.
The lawsuit was part of similar cases nationwide claiming charging drivers with disabilities for the right to access violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The settlement says Texas would fund a pool to cover refunds to drivers with disabilities who bought the blue parking placards since 1997. A judge in 2008 ordered the state to stop collecting the fee.
Attorney J. Hampton Skelton of Austin says he was happy to reach the agreement on behalf of disabled Texans.
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Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.