New York, NY—July 23, 2025
In a significant victory for New York City nursing home residents and their families, Mobilization for Justice (“MFJ”), in partnership with Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, secured a landmark class action settlement for individuals who were denied access to a state program that would have helped them receive essential care at home. As part of that settlement, Patterson Belknap was awarded a multimillion-dollar sum of attorneys’ fees for its 14,700+ hours of work on this case spanning nine years. Patterson Belknap will donate the entirety of its fees to MFJ to support its Disability & Aging Rights Project (“The Project”).
In recognizing the impact of Patterson Belknap’s pro bono services on New York City and some of its most vulnerable citizens, Kevin Cremin, the Director of Litigation for Disability & Aging Rights at Mobilization for Justice, commented: “This settlement would not have been possible without Patterson Belknap’s tireless devotion to the case and the class members. The firm’s donation of all of its attorneys’ fees will help fund the important work of our Disability & Aging Rights Project for years to come.”
Patterson Belknap’s $3.5 million grant will allow MFJ to carry out its charitable work protecting and advancing disability and aging rights through The Project, which may include activities such as: conducting educational trainings for people with disabilities, family members, medical professionals, and social service providers; helping people with disabilities access appropriate transportation; providing advice, counsel, and representation to people with mental disabilities, seniors, adult home residents, and nursing home residents; and pursuing individual and affirmative litigation to improve access to appropriate care and accommodations.
“On behalf of MFJ, I would like to thank Patterson Belknap for this generous donation and for its more than three-decades long support of our organization and, in particular, our advocacy on behalf of children, families, seniors and people with disabilities,” stated Tiffany Liston, Executive Director at Mobilization for Justice. “This is not the first substantial gift to MFJ from Patterson Belknap, and our relationship is one built on mutual respect and admiration for the contributions of our respective law firms to the public good.”
The class action lawsuit was initially filed by Mobilization for Justice and Patterson Belknap in the Eastern District of New York in August 2015 on behalf of New York City nursing home residents who sought assistance through New York State’s Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (“NHTD”) Waiver Program. Under this program, our clients were entitled to exit Medicaid-funded nursing homes and receive Medicaid services in their own homes. When they applied, thousands of eligible residents were denied, often without proper notice, while others were stuck indefinitely in nursing homes. The complaint alleged that the New York State Department of Health denied them their due process rights and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Medicaid Act by failing to properly administer the NHTD Waiver Program.
The settlement establishes significant program improvements, including additional program staff to assist applicants and ensuring applicants are properly notified of decisions and given the opportunity to appeal denials. These changes are already improving access to the program for thousands of New Yorkers who wish to receive care in their own homes.
U.S. District Judge Frederic Block recognized the “extraordinary efforts” that went into this “matter of public significance” and reflected while many feel that we have “lost our compass in terms of really addressing public issues,” this work was a “good example” of the importance of public service. He acknowledged the contributions of the Mobilization for Justice and Patterson Belknap teams, remarking on the record: “This is an important matter, and it is…obvious you’ve accomplished a great deal and you’re to be commended for that.”
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Mobilization for Justice (www.mobilizationforjustice.org) is a civil nonprofit legal services organization with offices in Manhattan and the Bronx whose mission is to achieve justice for all. MFJ prioritizes the needs of people who are low-income, disenfranchised, or have disabilities as they struggle to overcome the effects of social injustice and systemic racism. MFJ provides the highest-quality free, direct civil legal assistance, conducts community education and builds partnerships, engages in policy advocacy, and brings impact litigation, with a focus on four key areas: Housing, Economic Justice, Disability and Aging Rights, and Children’s Rights. MFJ also promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, and understands the need to eliminate all racial disparities to achieve justice for all.