Gale Williams v. United States of America, United States Post Office

The plaintiffs, consisting of two handicapped individuals and four organizations, whose purposes include the improvement of the quality of life of handicapped persons, filed this action against forty-one federal agencies and the Postal Service. The principal relief sought by plaintiffs was an order directing defendants to issue a “final § 504” regulation which reflects the changes made by the Comprehensive Services and Developmental Disabilities Act of 1978, without further delay, and in no event later than April 1, 1981.

After concluding the defendants were required by Congressional mandate to issue such regulations, the trial judge appropriately stayed the proceedings to allow voluntary compliance. The response of the forty-one federal agencies satisfied the court as to their compliance efforts. They are not involved in this appeal.

The Postal Service persisted in its position that it was not required to promulgate the regulations sought by the plaintiffs, and filed a motion to dismiss. Plaintiffs countered with a motion for a mandatory injunction. The trial court granted the plaintiffs’ motion, ordering:

1. The United States Postal Service shall publish expeditiously, and…