Skip to Main Content
Services Talent Knowledge
Site Search
Menu

News

October 18, 2022

Paul Kietzman on the Historic Willowbrook School Lawsuit: Video Available

Paul Kietzman, of counsel, was part of the panel discussion “Willowbrook State School: How a Lawsuit Closed the Gates to a Notorious Institution and Opened the Doors of Opportunity for Thousands,” presented by the Historical Society of the New York Courts. 

Willowbrook State School was an infamous institution on Staten Island built to care for those with developmental disabilities. Following a series of articles in Staten Island Advance in 1971, television reporter Geraldo Rivera reported on the horrible conditions at the school, once described by Senator Robert Kennedy as a snake pit. Two months later, attorneys from the NYCLU and the NY Legal Aid Society, on behalf of residents, parents, and organizations, filed a class-action lawsuit arguing that residents had a constitutional right to treatment and sought injunctive relief.

The panel, made up of attorneys who were involved in the historic case, discussed filing the complaint, the entry of a consent judgment, finding justice for the developmentally disabled who were housed at the school, and how the case continues to resonate today. 

The program video is available here.

Subscribe

Click here to sign up for alerts, blog posts, and firm news.

Featured Media

Alerts

Non-Judicial Collateral Remedies, Part 1 – Collection and Enforcement Rights

Alerts

Recent US Supreme Court Decision Will Spur ERISA Litigation

Alerts

Proposed Endangered Species Act Change Seeks to Redefine "Harm"

Alerts

Natural Gas Bans in New York State Take Shape: Exemptions and Lawsuits Under Scrutiny

Alerts

Here We Go Again: Second Circuit Makes Additional Certification Attempt Regarding the New York Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act

Alerts

OMIG Launches Enhanced Audit Protocol Page: Key Compliance Resource for Medicaid Providers

This site uses cookies to give you the best experience possible on our site and in some cases direct advertisements to you based upon your use of our site.

By clicking [I agree], you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For information on what cookies we use and how to manage our use of cookies, please visit our Privacy Statement.

I AgreeOpt-Out