United States v. Georgia
United States Supreme Court
546 U.S. 151 (2006)
Goodman (plaintiff), a paraplegic inmate in the Georgia prison system, sued the State of Georgia (defendant) under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), claiming he was denied assistance with basic life functions, reasonable accommodations, and access to prison programs because of his disability. Georgia moved for summary judgment, arguing Title II violated its sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment. The district court agreed and dismissed the case, and the Eleventh Circuit affirmed. Goodman and the United States appealed to the Supreme Court.
Whether Congress may, through Title II of the ADA and its power under § 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, create private causes of action against states for conduct that also violates the Fourteenth Amendment.