BALTIMORE, September 5, 2024 – Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) will present Mayer Brown LLP, a leading international law firm, with the Outstanding Legal Advocacy Award at our Breaking Barriers Awards Gala. This prestigious award recognizes legal professionals who have shown a steadfast commitment to ensuring justice for people with disabilities.
As joint pro bono co-counsel with The Washington Lawyer’s Committee on the case of Rodney Coster v. Harford County Sheriff’s Office et al., Mayer Brown LLP demonstrated exceptional dedication, creativity, and perseverance.
Mr. Coster sued numerous defendants in Harford County for unlawfully and violently restraining and arresting him after he arrived at the Harford County Detention Center after his mother requested help from an officer to get Mr. Coster to a hospital in 2018.
In October 2023, the parties reached an agreement that included damages for Mr. Coster and systemic policy changes aimed at diverting individuals with behavioral health disabilities from unnecessary interactions with law enforcement and improving the Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s Crisis Intervention Team procedures.
DRM’s Litigation Director, Luciene Parsley, said “Mayer Brown was a tenacious and steadfast advocate for Mr. Coster, resulting in remedies that recognized the harm he suffered at the hands of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. Together with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, the Mayer Brown team offered unparalleled litigation expertise, collegiality, and exceptional dedication to improving law enforcement’s response to others experiencing a mental health crisis in the future.”
Mayer Brown LLP’s efforts in securing an agreement that includes both damages and systemic changes brings us one step closer to an environment where people experiencing a behavioral health crisis are treated with care and respect.
To learn more about DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala, visit DisabilityRightsMD.org/Breaking-Barriers-Gala.
About Mayer Brown
As the first major law firm to develop and implement a pro bono strategic plan, Mayer Brown has long deployed its considerable resources to offer access to the justice system and confront systemic problems around the world where it can have a major impact. Visit: https://www.mayerbrown.com.
About Disability Rights Maryland (DRM)
Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advances the rights of people with disabilities in Maryland. DRM provides free legal support to address issues like abuse, neglect, or discrimination that might occur in education, housing, transportation, healthcare, voting, and more. Ensuring that people with disabilities don’t have to live in institutions unnecessarily is a primary goal. DRM envisions a world where everyone has access to the services they need to fully participate in the workplace, neighborhoods, and all aspects of community life.
