In 2016, I joined TRE Legal Practice to work alongside a law-school classmate, Timothy Elder, to assist with legal analysis, legal research and writing, and process support. The firm is focused primarily on cases of disability discrimination, especially those involving technology and accessibility.
After working primarily behind the scenes for several years, I am now a full attorney licensed in the State of California.
In addition to a focus on legal research and writing, I have been involved in data analysis as part of various settlement monitoring agreements and other kinds of cases. Such data—often given grudgingly and often needing extensive normalizing—can nonetheless prove a valuable window into the actual activities of parties we are monitoring.
Selected Cases#
Martinez v. County of Alameda, Case No. 3:20-cv-06570-TSH (N.D. Cal.): Yes, under the ADA, if a blind business owner comes to a government office to file her paper form, staff do need to read and write on official forms under her direction. That’s the jury verdict delivered by a federal jury in California against Alameda County on Tuesday, April 3, 2024. This post-trial case is still active.
- Jury Trial Victory for Blind Business Owner from TRE Legal Practice (2024)
- Blind Businesswoman Vindicated and Awarded over $30,000 by Jury in Federal Equal Access Case from the National Federation of the Blind (2024)
- Fundamental Alteration, Undue Burden, Deliberate Indifference, Facially Neutral Policies, and the Title II entity by William Goren (2021)
Orozco v. Garland, Case No. 1:19-cv-03336-EGS (D.D.C.): This currently active case seeks to make Department of Justice systems accessible for blind employees. It has also established the right of federal employees to bring private lawsuits under Section 508 when such software is inaccessible.
- Is There a Private Cause of Action for Violations of §508 of the Rehabilitation Act? by William Goren (2023)
State of California ex rel. Bryan Bashin v. Conduent, Inc. et al., Case No. RG18888208 (Cal. Super. Ct.): Our plaintiff-relator alleged violations of California’s False Claims Act and Unruh Civil Rights Act by a government contractor that developed and ran the bookings website for California’s Department of Parks & Recreation. In responding to the allegations that the provided website was inaccessible to individuals with disabilities, the judge wrote: “Here, the interference alleged is manifest—the very website that is the portal to access to the public benefit, is unavailable to persons with disabilities.” The case settled as we were preparing for trial.
- Innovative fraud whistleblower suit in website case produces multimillion-dollar damages settlement and remediation plan from TRE Legal Practice (2023)
- Bashin v. Conduent, Inc. Case Profile from Relman Colfax (our co-counsel)
- Crucial Decision Validates Fraud Whistleblower Suit from TRE Legal Practice (2019)