[NFBMDTLC-Chapter] FW: Greater-Baltimore Digest, Vol 153, Issue 9

[nfbmd]

Please read below message.  Please let me know if you will be able to come,
we need lots of people. 

Sharon Maneki, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
410-715-9596

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not
the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

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Subject: Greater-Baltimore Digest, Vol 153, Issue 9

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Today's Topics:

   1. Help Needed May 2 (Ringlein, Ellen)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2018 20:28:11 +0000
From: "Ringlein, Ellen" <ERinglein at nfb.org>
To: "State President, Maryland" <nfbmd at earthlink.net>, "NFB of
	Maryland e-mail	list" <nfbmd at nfbnet.org>, NFB of Maryland Baltimore
	Chapter Discussion List	<greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>,
	"'Towson/Lutherville/Cockysville Maryland	Chapter List'"
	<nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Greater-Baltimore] Help Needed May 2
Message-ID:
	
<BN6PR1701MB1699CB85E7C0C30FA11F46E9BD8D0 at BN6PR1701MB1699.namprd17.prod.outl
ook.com>
	
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Fellow Federationists

Next Wednesday afternoon there is an oral argument at the Federal Courthouse
in Baltimore in a case which involves Patty Homan, a blind Randolph-sheppard
vendor. We would like as many blind folks as possible to be there to support
her. The details are below. Please let Sharon Maneki know, if you can
attend.

Cordially,

Ellen


Federal Court in Baltimore to Decide  Important Rights for Blind People

When: Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 2:15 PM

Where: court room 5C (5th floor, court room C), United States District
Court, District of Maryland, located at 101 W. Lombard St. in Baltimore.

Note: Please plan to arrive at the Courthouse by 2:00 PM to give sufficient
time to pass through security. A photo ID may be needed.  Laptop or other
computers are not allowed.  Cell phones are permitted but must be turned off
during court proceedings.

This is an oral argument before district court judge Marvin J. Garbis, open
to the public.  Anyone interested should attend and pass the word to others.

The Issue

Patty Homan is a blind vendor and member of the NFB of Maryland. Six years
ago the state wrongfully denied her a promotion in the BEP program.  Federal
law gives blind vendors the right of arbitration to challenge actions or
decisions of the state agency.

Last year a three-member arbitration panel convened by the U. S. Department
of Education said Patty should have been promoted and ordered the state to
pay her the money she would have earned; approximately $200 thousand due her
in back pay. But now the state is refusing to pay Patty, arguing to the
court that a blind vendor can't recover money damages and attorneys' fees
when the state is found in violation of the law.  Although this appeal seems
outrageous, some other federal courts have ruled in favor of states and
against the blind  in similar cases, citing sovereign immunity of the states
under the U. S. constitution. Therefore, the outcome in this case has
important implications for upholding the rights of blind people under
Randolph-sheppard and other laws.

The official name of the case is Maryland State Department of Education v.
United States Department of Education et al. Our attorneys, Dr. Marc Maurer
and Susan Rockwood Gashel will appear before Judge Garbis to make the
important oral arguments on behalf of Ms. Homan and all blind people. Please
be present in the room to show the court that the decision will have an
important impact on the lives and livelihoods of blind people beyond that of
Patty Homan alone.

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End of Greater-Baltimore Digest, Vol 153, Issue 9
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