***UPDATE: On July 29, 2015, checks distributing the $6.73 million compensation fund created by the Consent Decree in this matter were sent to 2,695 individuals who requested testing accommodations on the LSAT and were eligible for an award from the fund. Learn more.

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If you requested testing accommodations for the LSAT between January 1, 2009 and May 20, 2014, you may be eligible for payment from a nationwide compensation fund established by consent decree in DFEH v. LSAC. 

Claims must be submitted no later than April 15, 2015.  Read on for more information...

DFEH v. LSAC Nationwide Settlement

The DFEH v. LSAC Consent Decree (HTML | PDF) resolves a nationwide lawsuit brought by the United States of America and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing ("DFEH") alleging that the Law School Admission Council, Inc. ("LSAC") discriminated against individuals with disabilities who take, or seek to take, the LSAT with testing accommodations, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. LSAC disputed the positions of the United States and DFEH. 

The United States, DFEH, and LSAC agreed to resolve the allegations through a negotiated consent decree rather than litigation. The United States District Court for the Northern District of California ordered the entry of the consent decree on May 29, 2014 (see press release).

Under the Consent Decree, LSAC has agreed to create a $6,730,000 nationwide Compensation Fund for individuals who requested accommodations on the LSAT between January 1, 2009 and May 20, 2014, and who are Eligible Persons under the Consent Decree. The amount of the payments to Eligible Persons will be determined by dividing the total Compensation Fund by the total number of Eligible Persons and will depend upon the number of people who file timely, valid, and approved Claim Forms & executed Releases.

What Are My Options?

• SUBMIT A CLAIM FORM: 
  If you believe you are a potentially eligible person who may be entitled to compensation from a nationwide fund (“Compensation Fund”) established by the Consent Decree in this matter, to receive a payment from the Compensation Fund, you must file a Claim Form and executed Release during the Claims Period (September 19, 2014 – April 15, 2015). 
  
  The Claim Form and Release of Claims are now available. Please note that you can only access the Claim Form and Release of Claims with personalized claim and control numbers which are pre-printed on your Notice of Consent Decree Creating LSAC Nationwide Compensation Fund ("Notice"). You may receive a Notice from the LSAC Nationwide Compensation Fund Claims Administrator by e-mail and/or regular mail, or you may request that a Notice, Claim Form, and Release of Claims be mailed to you.
  
  To request that a Notice, Claim Form, and Release of Claims be mailed to you, please follow the instructions below. You may then submit your completed Claim Form and Release of Claims by mail, fax, or e-mail. If submitted by mail, your Claim Form and Release of Claims must be postmarked on or before April 15, 2015, or your claim will be denied. If you submit your Claim Form and Release of claims by e-mail or fax, they must be received no later than April 15, 2015, or your claim will be denied. 
  
  To request that a Notice, Claim Form, and Release be mailed to you, please email the Claims Administrator at  or submit a notice request online.
  
  

• DO NOTHING: 
  If you do nothing, you will not receive payment from the Compensation Fund. Only individuals who timely submit completed claim forms and properly executed releases, and who otherwise meet the criteria set out in the Consent Decree, are eligible for payment.

Questions?

• For more information about the lawsuit or compensation fund, see the LSAC Nationwide Compensation Fund's FAQ or visit their Home page.
• If you have questions that are not answered on the Compensation Fund website, submit your questions via the contact form at lsacconsentdecree.com/contact or contact the Claims Administrator at:

LSAC Nationwide Compensation Fund
c/o GCG
P.O. Box 10080
Dublin, OH 43017-6680
Tel.: (855) 382-6399
TTY: (844) 553-1378
Email: 

UDC David A. Clarke School of Law's American Constitution Society presents:

         In May 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice, the State of California, and Legal Aid reached a settlement with the Law School Admissions Council for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (DFEH v. LSAC, see http://bit.ly/1s7L2Wr). A named plaintiff as well as counsel in the landmark case will discuss how the consent decree will affect law schools, compensation for affected law students, and UDC’s support of the litigation at a panel on Tuesday, October 14 at the UDC School of Law. The consent decree ends discrimination by LSAT administrators against a broad spectrum of students with disabilities that unfairly denied necessary testing accommodations.

         This victory for students with disabilities is a victory for fairness under the law and is in keeping with University of the District of Columbia's mission to promote legal education in the public interest. By changing the practice of admission for students with disabilities, this consent decree has the power to reshape legal education.

Panelists:
Megan Schuller, Trial Attorney at the Department of Justice who litigated DFEH v. LSAC
Nabina Sinha, Trial Attorney at the Department of Justice who litigated DFEH v. LSAC
Matthew Kaplan, Complainant and 2L student at UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
Robert Burgdorf, Professor Emeritus of Law at UDC Law in Disability Law

RSVP:  or http://www.law.udc.edu/event/ACS_LSAT

At the Corner of Law Practice & Disability CLE & Reception

Wednesday, October 15, 2014
CLE 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. | Reception 5:00 p.m.
Stoel Rives LLP, 900 SW Fifth Ave., 19th Floor, Portland, OR
$20 prepaid by Oct. 10, $25 at the door if available

         What are some practical ways a small firm can accommodate an attorney or staff member with a disability? What are the ethical concerns and best practices for lawyers who have an unplanned medical emergency? What resources are available for attorneys with disabilities? Although the focus of this program will be primarily on solo practitioners and those in smaller firms, this CLE is for any lawyer who is disabled or who has the possibility of becoming temporarily or permanently disabled and the firms and departments who employ them—in other words—everyone.


Speakers include:

Amber Bevacqua-Lynott, Oregon State Bar
Cheryl Coon, Swanson Thomas Coon & Newton
Melissa Kenney, KP Law
Kendra Matthews, Ransom Blackman
Lisa Porter, KP Law
Helle Rode, Oregon Heath & Sciences University
Camilla Thurmond, Social Security Administration, Office of Disability Adjudication & Review

Event Flyer: http://www.oregonwomenlawyers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/At-the-Corner-of-Law-Practice-and-Disability.pdf

For more information about the event and registration, visit http://www.oregonwomenlawyers.org/events/event/at-the-corner-of-law-practice-and-disability-cle-and-reception/.