Legal Notice For Blind and Visually Impaired DWP Customers
The following is a legal notice relating to matters that may be of interest to blind or visually impaired customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
A class action lawsuit is currently pending against the City of Los Angeles in the Los Angeles Superior Court. In the case, it is alleged that the City is in violation of California disability access laws because DWP bills, shut-off notices and other forms of communications, including the DWP website, are not provided in formats accessible to the blind and visually impaired. The City denies and disputes these claims.
At this time, the parties have agreed to a settlement of the case. Among other things, the City has agreed to make DWP billing statements available in Braille or large print, to establish e-mail and telephone notification systems for blind or visually impaired customers, and to ensure that a planned redesign of the DWP website will comply with federal accessibility standards.
The case has been brought and is proposed to be settled as a class action. This means that if the proposed settlement is approved by the Court, it will enter a judgment that will dismiss the case on the merits and with prejudice as to the entire class. The class consists of:
- all blind or visually impaired individuals who, at any time prior to November 24, 2008, were DWP customers or accessed or attempted to access the DWP website using a screen-reader program; and
- all individuals who, on behalf of a blind or visually impaired DWP customer, accessed or attempted to access the DWP website or received any bills, statements, shut-off notices or other communications from the DWP at any time prior to November 24, 2008.
If you are a class member, you have the right to object to the settlement. If the settlement is approved, you will be barred from prosecuting claims that you may have had against the City concerning the matters at issue in the pending case. You may have other rights as well.
If you wish to learn more about the settlement or your rights, you may contact the law firm of Arias Ozello & Gignac, which the Court has appointed as class counsel. The firm’s telephone number is (310) 670-1600. The settlement is also described on the DWP website at "www.ladwp.com."
Please do not contact the Court for information about the settlement.
