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Equal Employment Opportunity Comm'n v. Hussey Copper Ltd
Employers must individually assess methadone users' ability to perform jobs. A blanket denial violated the ADA, resulting in a settlement for the applicant.
People v. Becker
The court upheld a murder conviction, finding the defendant's methamphetamine use was linked to the crime. Drug use did not establish a successful mental state defense in this case.
RHJ Medical Center, Inc. v. City of DuBois
The court ruled the city violated disability laws by using zoning rules to block a methadone clinic. This action discriminated against individuals with protected disabilities.
Wyeth v. Levine
The Court ruled FDA drug label approval does not prevent state lawsuits over inadequate warnings. Injured patients can sue drug makers for insufficient information, as seen with Levine's Phenergan injection.
Erickson v. Pardus
The Supreme Court ruled a prisoner's claim of denied life-saving medical treatment for hepatitis C deserved a full hearing. This reinforced inmates' right to challenge prison medical care under the Eighth Amendment.
Malone v. State
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals upheld a death sentence. It ruled that drug-induced psychosis did not meet the legal insanity threshold, despite evidence the defendant suffered from it.
Kimbrough v. US
The Supreme Court ruled that judges can consider the sentencing differences between crack and powder cocaine when applying advisory guidelines.
New Directions Treatment Services v. City of Reading
The court reaffirmed drug addiction as a disability only if not currently using, while striking down discriminatory zoning against methadone clinics.
Grisham v. Philip Morris USA, Inc.
The court ruled a smoker's fraud and negligence claims against tobacco companies were not time-barred. This was because her nicotine addiction's delayed discovery impacted the statute of limitations.
Phillips v. Jasper County Jail
The court found jail staff may have ignored an inmate's seizure medication needs and bunk request, but dismissed claims against the jail doctor.
Wisconsin Community Services v. City of Milwaukee
The court ruled cities cannot discriminate against mental health and addiction centers when issuing special-use permits. These centers are entitled to reasonable accommodation under federal law.
Davis v. Carter
The Seventh Circuit ruled that Cook County’s repeated delays in providing methadone to an inmate could demonstrate deliberate indifference, equating delay with denial of care for a serious medical need.
Gonzales v. O Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal
The Court ruled that the religious use of a controlled substance was protected from federal prosecution under RFRA.
United States v. Georgia
The Court ruled the ADA applies to state prisons when constitutional rights are violated. This protects incarcerated individuals with disabilities, including those with substance use disorders.
Gonzales v. Oregon
The Court held the Attorney General cannot ban doctors from prescribing drugs for state-authorized physician-assisted suicide. This ruling affirmed Oregon's right to allow the practice.