Civil Rights Group Sues KeyPoint Credit Union for Alleged Civil Rights Violations

By Evan Mix

Published on May 12, 2009

The Disability Rights Advocates, a civil rights organization protecting the disabled, has filed a class action lawsuit against KeyPoint Credit Union. The Los Angeles-area credit union is accused of systematic discrimination against patrons who are deaf or hearing disabled.

According to the Disability Rights Advocates filing, KeyPoint Credit Union is in violation of both state and federal anti-discrimination laws in connection with its failure to implement a technology known as telephone relay service calling. The technology would allow deaf customers to use phone banking and other over-the-phone products offered by KeyPoint.

According to a spokesperson for the Disability Rights Advocates, KeyPoint has repeatedly refused to implement telephone relay services despite requests from hearing-impaired customers and disability rights organizations like the DRA. By rejecting the technology, KeyPoint denies hearing-impaired customers access to services that other banking customers are able to use. The lawsuit claims that by failing to make these services available to deaf customers, KeyPoint is violating their civil rights.

Comment on this article →