Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

The METO Lawsuit and Jensen Settlement Agreement

Interviews about the METO Lawsuit and Jensen Settlement Agreement were conducted with Shamus O'Meara, Counsel for the Plaintiff; Steve Larson, The Arc Minnesota; Pamela Hoopes, Minnesota Disability Law Center; Roberta Opheim, Ombudsman Office for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities; and Self Advocates.

Shamus O'Meara, Counsel for the Plaintiffs

Shamus O'Meara

At the December 1, 2011 Fairness Hearing before United States District Court Judge Donovan Frank, the METO Settlement Agreement was accepted. Judge Frank issued the official Order on December 5, 2011. In this interview with Shamus O'Meara, counsel for the Plaintiffs in the METO class action lawsuit, he talks about his decision to take the case, the legal issues involved, and some of the critical aspects of the Settlement Agreement, including the focus on staff training around person centered planning, and the establishment of both an Olmstead Committee and Rule 40 Committee.

Following the Fairness Hearing, Shamus O'Meara was interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). A related article was featured on MPR's "All Things Considered" on December 1, 2011.

Another article appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on December 2, 2011.

Steve Larson, The Arc Minnesota

Pamela Hoopes, Minnesota Disability Law Center

Roberta Opheim, Ombudsman Office for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities

Self Advocates

Documents Related to the METO Lawsuit and Jensen Settlement Agreement

On June 23, 2011, United States District Court Judge Donovan Frank signed an Order granting preliminary approval of a $3 million Class Action Settlement in the METO lawsuit.

In response to issues raised by the Social Security Administration regarding Settlement Funds apportioned to Class Members and their affect on Social Security benefits and eligibility for benefits, Judge Donovan Frank, United States District Court, District of Minnesota, issued this Order on April 23, 2012.

On September 14-15, 2012, the Ombudsman Office for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities conducted an unannounced visit to MHSH-Cambridge (formerly METO). This report includes their observations, progress made, and overall findings, and is a followup to their 2008 report, Just Plain Wrong.

On June 11, 2013, the Court Monitor filed this Status Report on Compliance regarding the Jensen Settlement Agreement with the Federal District Court, District of Minnesota.

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This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001MNSCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

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