Pace, advocacy group settle suit

Pace dropped its suit against an advocacy group for disabled riders Thursday in exchange for the group dropping “Pace from its name.

The suburban public-transit agency and the group formerly known as the Pace ADA Advisory Committee basically agreed to what Judge Rita Novak called a “consent decree or “permanent injunction to be formally filed Monday against the group using “Pace in any form, including abbreviations and acronyms, in its name. The group had also gone under the PACE acronym as Paratransit Advocates Committed to Equality.

The settlement included no monetary damages or fees of any kind. “Nobody is held responsible for anything, said Pace attorney Jeffery Chrones. “This does not infringe on their First Amendment rights as an advocacy group against Pace.

Sharon Lamp, of Des Plaines, a member of the group named individually in the suit, said it inhibited their efforts while the suit was still active. “They bullied us in various ways, Lamp said. “They really shut down our advocacy for a year and a half, (but) we can move forward now.

The group's attorney, Michael Davis, advised them to refile with state agencies under another name, with Lamp suggesting the Public Transit ADA Advisory Committee. “Your mission is to be an advocate for the disabled against Pace, Davis told the group after a hearing in Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago Thursday. “Your rights are still intact.

“You can still tear them up any time you want, he added. “Now you can go after them like a pit bull in heat.

The group grew out of a semiformal arrangement with Pace more than 10 years ago, but as it grew more independent and confrontational the transit agency took more offense until filing the suit. Group officers Debbie Pittman and Gloria Nichols, of Chicago, also were named in the suit, as was the allied group Concerned Citizens of Paratransit.

Chrones emphasized the settlement involved no penalties against anyone, although Novak said it would be enforced with any violations being in contempt of court.

“I appreciate the cooperation of the parties, she said in approving the settlement.