WOMAN SUES BOCA HOUSING AUTHORITY - 1/4/2010

Boca Raton - A 66-year-old woman who was trying to get a federal housing voucher from the Boca Raton Housing Authority when a riot broke out in 2008 has sued the agency claiming it did not do enough to accommodate disabled people.

In the lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court, Linda Gadav claims sheexplained to housing authority officials that she had a degenerative joint disease and could not wait in line for a voucher application. Housing authority officials told her to return the next day when the applications would be available.

When she came back at about 4 a.m. at least 1,000 people were waiting in line. As soon as officials told those with disabilities to come forward, the entire crowd surged, making it impossible for Gadav to get an application, she claims in the lawsuit filed by Miami attorney Matthew Dietz.