FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1996                          (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
     STATEMENT BY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL DEVAL L. PATRICK
      ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S FIRST TRIAL UNDER THE ADA

     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  In the Justice Department's first trial
under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a jury has awarded
$300,000 to a former Denver police officer who was forced to retire
after he had been injured in the line of duty.

     The jury in U.S. District Court in Denver found that the
Denver Police Department had failed to reassign Jack Davoll to one
of the vacant civilian jobs that he could still perform.  It also
found that the City had failed to show the reassignment would
impose an undue hardship on the City.  

     Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval Patrick
today issued the following statement on the victory:

     "Our nation's police officers risk their lives every day to
enforce our laws.  When an officer injured in the line of duty can
no longer walk the beat but can still perform other duties, a city
should not turn its back on the officer.

     "Officer Jack Davoll served as an outstanding police officer
for more than nine years in the City of Denver.  Even though he
could no longer perform the requirements of that job, there were
other positions which he was still well qualified for.  

     "Davoll wanted to work; was able to work; but the City
wouldn't let him.  That's wrong.

     "By refusing to continue employing experienced people with
disabilities who are able to work, a city is not only making a poor
business judgement, it is violating the ADA." 


     In addition to the jury's verdict rendered late Wednesday,
Judge John Kane must still decide the appropriate job and the
amount of backpay for Davoll.  

     In a second case, Davoll and two private plaintiffs sued the
Police Department for refusing to reassign them to career service
positions after they became disabled.  The two other plaintiffs,
Paul Escobedo and Deborah Clair were each awarded $250,000 in
compensatory damages.
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