FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CR

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1998

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ATTORNEYS HONORED AT CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION AWARDS CEREMONY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorneys who helped pass the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), defended the rights prisoners, the elderly, and the mentally ill, and established a mediation program for ADA complaints were honored today at the Civil Rights Division's Annual Awards Ceremony.

Attorney General Janet Reno, Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, Associate Attorney General Raymond Fischer and Acting Assistant Attorney General Bill Lann Lee were on hand to present the awards.

Phil Breen, Special Legal Counsel in the Disability Rights Section, received the distinguished John Doar Award, named after the first Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and given to a career employee who has made outstanding contributions to the Division. Breen, who has been with the Division since 1980, was instrumental in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the successful efforts to save Section 504, which prohibits disability-based discrimination by recipients of federal funds . He also played a significant role in the development of implementing regulations and authoring technical assistance manuals, that have helped guid the courts on ADA issues.

Robinsue Frohboese received the Walter Barnett Award, named after a distinguished civil servant and presented to an attorney who has demonstrated extraordinary skill and dedication in advocacy. Frohboese, the Deputy Chief of the Special Litigation Section, joined the Division in 1983 and has been instrumental in the success of cases brought on behalf of institutionalized persons, particularly the elderly and those with developmental disabilities and mental illness. Her passionate advocacy and academic and policy experience has enabled her to be an effective liaison between the Department and other federal agencies and advocacy groups.

Sally Conway, a pioneer of the Division's ADA Mediation program, was the recipient of the Maceo Hubbard Award. This award is named after an extraordinary civil servant who spent 40 years with the Department and is given to an individual who has furthered the cause of civil rights through a significant, innovative accomplishment. Because of Conway's tireless work establishing the mediation program, the Division has achieved remarkable success for individuals who have suffered discrimination. More than 420 complaints have been referred to mediation and more than 80 percent have been successfully resolved.

The Division's Excellence in Administration Award was presented to Stephanie Block, whose leadership was instrumental in the successful physical relocation of 350 of the Division's employees. Marian Thompson was awarded the Excellence in Legal Support Award for her work as a statistician in the Employment Litigation Section.

An additional 300 employees were honored with awards for their achievements.

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