This is a Press Release. DeafMN is sharing it because it provides important news relating to Deaf civil rights.
Jamestown, ND – Christine Stein was wrongfully arrested and jailed after calling 9-1-1 to seek help from law enforcement, because she is deaf. To ensure this never happens again, she has filed suit in federal court alleging that the Supreme Court of North Dakota, the North Dakota State Court Administration, the City of Jamestown, Stutsman County, Chief Judge Gerald VanWalle, and Judge Timothy Ottmar discriminated against her on the basis of disability in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.In a separate, but concurrently filed federal lawsuit, Stein alleges that the City of Jamestown and Officer Brian Davis violated her Constitutional rights in arresting her without probable cause. On May 25, 2015, Stein dialed 9-1-1 through a relay system that uses sign language interpreters and sought assistance with a suicidal man in her apartment. Rather than providing the needed assistance, law enforcement disregarded the suicidal man and instead improperly arrested and jailed Stein.
