On Track to Change MTA - Reily v. MTA

From the Archive –  2004 – Reily v. MTA

Thomas D. Shanahan, P.C.…

In 2002, I had the privilege of representing James O’Reilly and his life partner Georgie Brennan.  James and George were registered domestic partners but denied health and other benefits by the MTA, James’ employer.   New York City had just recently passed a domestic partnership law which required these benefits.  The MTA claimed it was exempt as a multi-state agency and could not afford to give benefits to those who registered as domestic partners. 

We sued in court and won the initial round of court hearings and decisions.  While the matter was pending, the MTA voluntarily agreed to amend their policies and provide full benefits to all employees and their domestic partners.   We discontinued the case as the issue became moot.

However, the case was an important challenge to disparate treatment of LGBTQ workers and others who had registered domestic partners.  The attention our case brought to the issue played a major role in the MTA’s decision to modify its discriminatory policy.