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November 10, 2009

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AG’s suit backs rights for blind

Monday, May 5, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said she and 12 other states have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to force the federal government to take action in cases involving businesses run by blind people on government property.

A federal act allows blind persons to operate businesses on federal property. States can license the blind operators and can file grievances against the federal government in disputes.

But the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that even though an arbitration panel has the right to decide the government violated the law, it could not order the federal agency to take specific steps to obey the law such as permitting a blind person's business to open.

The court ruling was against Maryland, which has appealed to the Supreme Court. Del Papa and the other states are backing Maryland in asking the high court to reverse the decision.

"This act provides great employment opportunities to blind Nevadans on federal property," Del Papa said.

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