At Relman Colfax, we believe that every person deserves the right to live in community, with dignity, choice, and opportunity. Our Disability Advocacy practice is built upon decades of precedent-setting litigation and is recognized as a national leader in advancing the rights of people with disabilities. Now, we’re shining a spotlight on our work on behalf of people with mental health disabilities.
Mental health disabilities are frequently invisible, yet they profoundly impact daily life and access to opportunity. Too often, they are met with misunderstanding, stigma, and misapplication of the law. That is why it is essential to raise awareness and protect the legal rights of individuals with mental health disabilities.
Our work has ensured the enforcement of rights of individuals with mental health, intellectual, and developmental disabilities to be fully integrated into their communities, rather than segregated in treatment settings. Discrimination against people with mental health disabilities, whether through zoning, delay, or denial, has no place in our communities.
We're proud to represent clients who are breaking barriers and building inclusive futures throughout the nation.
Gilead Community Services v. Town of Cromwell
In a major win for disability justice, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a $2.2 million judgment against the Town of Cromwell for its discriminatory campaign to shut down a group home operated by Gilead Community Services. Gilead had purchased a single-family home to provide stable housing and support to six men with mental health disabilities, a use explicitly allowed under Connecticut law. Yet, faced with neighbor opposition, Cromwell officials acted to force the home's closure, threatening state funding, denying tax exemptions, and leaking sensitive resident information to the press.
Relman Colfax and the Connecticut Fair Housing Center sued in 2017. After a 7-day trial, the jury found that Cromwell officials' actions were rooted in discriminatory stereotypes and a blatant disregard for the law and returned one of the largest punitive damages awards ever in a Fair Housing Act case. The court’s decision affirms that group homes are not just legal, they are essential, and efforts to exclude people with disabilities from residential neighborhoods will be met with accountability.
This year, the Plaintiffs reached an agreement with Cromwell to resolve Plaintiffs’ claims for attorney’s fees and costs for $4.25 million. In total, the Town of Cromwell’s discrimination cost the Town and its insurer $6.45 million. The case stands as an example of the power of enforcing disability housing rights.
Relman Colfax recently published a case study to showcase the significance and wide-reaching impacts of this victory. Our hope is that it serves as inspiration for cities across the country to uphold the rights of community members with mental health disabilities.
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Concern for Independent Living, Inc. v. Town of Southampton
Relman Colfax represents Concern for Independent Living, a leading provider of supportive housing in New York, in challenging Southampton's refusal to rezone a parcel of land for Liberty Gardens, a 50-unit development that would offer affordable and supportive housing to veterans and people with mental health disabilities. Despite initially inviting Concern to propose the project and acknowledging that all development and environmental standards had been met, the Town reversed course following political pressure and community opposition.
The complaint alleges that the Town's actions were driven by stigma and discriminatory intent. It highlights how such decisions have real-world consequences: $30 million in funding is at risk, and vulnerable individuals are left without homes in a high-opportunity area. The lawsuit seeks both accountability and a mandate for the Town to approve the project. The matter has garnered national attention with coverage in The New York Times.
Lawrence County Recovery v. Village of Coal Grove
In southeastern Ohio, Relman Colfax represents Lawrence County Recovery (LCR) in a lawsuit against the Village of Coal Grove for its discriminatory treatment of recovery housing providers. The complaint describes a targeted campaign by the Village to block LCR from operating sober living homes, including a moratorium on new recovery housing, enforcement of burdensome regulations, and even criminal charges against LCR leadership.
These actions stemmed from harmful stereotypes about individuals in recovery and threaten a lifeline for residents of a county with one of the highest overdose rates in Ohio. The court's decision to let the case proceed marks an important step in affirming that individuals with substance use disorders are protected under federal law.
Community for Permanent Supported Housing v. Housing Authority of the City of Dallas, Texas
Relman Colfax represented the Community for Permanent Supported Housing (CPSH) and five families after the Housing Authority of Dallas (DHA) canceled a vital program offering Project-Based Vouchers (PBVs) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs). The program would have allowed these individuals to live in integrated, single-family homes with support from caregivers, a model of housing that promotes independence and dignity.
Despite HUD regulations that permit parents to rent to adult children with disabilities as a reasonable accommodation, DHA abruptly terminated the program, denying families the chance to secure long-term, community-based housing. Our lawsuit led to a settlement restoring the program, expanding voucher access in seven counties, and formalizing outreach efforts to families, service agencies, and property owners.
Monroe RE v. Town of Fairfield
Newport Healthcare, represented by Relman Colfax, sought to open two group homes for young adults with mental health disabilities in Fairfield, CT. Though the homes initially received permits, a vocal group of neighbors opposed their operation, prompting town officials to withhold necessary certificates and block licensing. Only after a federal jury ruled against the nearby Town of Cromwell in a similar case led by Relman Colfax did Fairfield reach out to consider a settlement. The parties reached a $1.5 million settlement, which included approval to open the homes and creation of a community fund for youth needing care.
Thought Leadership: Michael Allen on Mental Health Disability Rights
Relman Colfax Partner Michael Allen has helped shape disability housing law for decades. As a nationally recognized expert on supportive housing, Michael has written, spoken, and litigated extensively to ensure that people with disabilities can live in integrated settings with the support they need. Below are some of his most influential writings regarding mental health justice: