State Settles Lawsuit Seeking Community Placements for Disabled
Author: Worcester Telegram, MassachusettsDate: Mar 24, 2008
The Patrick administration has settled a class action lawsuit filed by disabled residents who want to move out of nursing homes and into the community. The lawsuit was filed in 1998 on behalf of Lorretta Rolland, a disabled Agawam woman. It sought to place people with mental or physical disabilities who were living in nursing homes into apartments or group homes. At the time, Rolland said she wanted a "real home and a real life like other people have." Under a previous settlement, about 1,000 people were placed in the community between 2000 and 2007. The settlement announced Thursday will move another 640 people from nursing homes into the community. The agreement officially closes the case.
