L.C. in court case is remembered as more than a set of initials

Lois Curtis, one of the lead plaintiffs in the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W. case, passed away at the age of 55 from pancreatic cancer. The 1999 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that unjustified segregation of individuals with disabilities constitutes discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Curtis, along with Elaine Wilson, had mental illness and developmental disabilities and were voluntarily admitted to Georgia Regional Hospital.

The court decision marked a significant shift from institutional care to community-based support for people with disabilities and elders. After the ruling, Curtis lived in various homes, pursued her talent as an artist, and met President Barack Obama in 2011 at the White House.