Legal Issues

Civil servant with Asperger’s fired and labeled a health hazard

By on July 26, 2006

Edinburgh, Scotland: A civil servant with Asperger's syndrome was fired by tax office managers after union representatives labelled him a health hazard, a tribunal has heard.

Patrick Roberts, 48, was sacked from his job with Customs and Excise when representatives from the LTS union described his behaviour as "a health and safety risk" to his fellow workers.

Justice system ‘ignores’ autism – BBC News

By on October 31, 2005



BBC News		Justice system 'ignores' autism
BBC News, UK - 6 hours ago
People involved in the administration of criminal justice must raise their awareness of autism and Asperger's syndrome, a leading charity says. ...

Supreme Court Upholds Lower Court Ruling On Playground Ban – WLBZ-TV

By on August 13, 2005

Google News reports:
Supreme Court Upholds Lower Court Ruling On Playground Ban
WLBZ-TV, ME - 18 hours ago
The case involves their home-schooled son, Jan, who has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that involves delays in basic social and language skills. ...
Supreme court upholds lower court ruling on playground ban Foster's Daily Democrat

Wrong Answer Leaves Canadian Teen In US Detention Center

By on July 8, 2005

Google News reports: KOMO, WA - Jul 6, 2005
... freaking out. Sarah's spent the past five days locked up there. And she has Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism. "She was ...

Link to article

Disabled boy’s access to playground argued

By on June 18, 2005

Google News reports: Portland Press Herald, ME - Jun 15, 2005
... Jan's parents say that his behavior was a manifestation of Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism, and his suspension was a violation of his civil ...

Link to article

Autism advocacy group to file lawsuit against school district …

By on April 30, 2005

Kalamazoo County, April 29, 2005, 4:51 p.m.) An autism advocacy group announced Friday it will be filing a lawsuit against the Parchment School District in regards to the death of a student.

Family Wins Therapy Funding For Autistic Son

By on December 29, 2004

Reference: BBC News

By Maggie Taggart
BBC Northern Ireland education correspondent


An east Belfast family has won a legal battle to get full funding for an intensive course of home teaching for their autistic son.


Paul's mother Ruth campaigned for teaching at home
It is believed to be the first time an education and library board has been ordered to pay the full cost of the therapy, which can cost up to £30,000 a year.

A BBC...

Autism defense rejected in case of SUV arson

By on November 14, 2004

The Miami Herald reports:

A judge on Friday barred attorneys defending a graduate student charged in an arson spree of sport utility vehicles from presenting evidence he suffered from a type of autism known as Asperger's syndrome. U.S. District Judge Gary Klausner ruled Friday that the condition could not be used as part of Cottrell's defense.

Prosecutors seek delay in Cottrell case

By on October 14, 2004

The Pasadena Star reports:

PASADENA -- Prosecutors are seeking a delay in the case of alleged Caltech ecoterrorist Bill Cottrell, insisting they need more time to research a defense claim that Cottrell suffers from a form of autism known as Asperger's Syndrome.

Cottrell's defense filed a motion Wednesday objecting to the delay and asking that the trial proceed as scheduled Oct. 26.

Cottrell, 24, faces 35 years to life in federal prison in...

Man with Asperger’s freed from hospital for criminally insane after decade

By on October 3, 2004

Awares.org reports:

A man suffering from Asperger's syndrome who was wrongly sent to Broadmoor hospital for the criminally insane, after being misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, has been released a decade later after a campaign by the British newspapers, the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph.