Ursula Newell-Davis & Sivad Home and Community Services, LLC v. Courtney N. Phillips, et al.
New Orleans social worker challenges Louisiana law that stopped her from helping special needs children and their families
Ursula Newell-Davis cares deeply for those most in need in her New Orleans community. After two decades of working with special needs children, she decided to launch a company that would provide much-needed respite services to this vulnerable population. Inspired by her experience as a special needs parent herself, Ursula wants to give these children hope that they can live productive, meaningful, and independent lives. But the state’s Facility Need Review process stopped her. Because many students lack access to their schools’ resources as a result of pandemic-induced school closures, Ursula’s business is needed now more than ever. The government has no business denying her the opportunity to help, so Ursula is fighting back.
Legacy Medical Transport, LLC and Phillip Truesdell v. Adam Meier, et al.
Family defeats crony “Competitor’s Veto” law
Phillip Truesdell and his family launched Legacy Medical Transport in 2017 with one ambulance and high hopes of thriving in the wake of job losses. Their hard work paid off—today, their non-emergency ambulance company in Aberdeen, Ohio, has grown to seven vehicles. Located just miles from the Kentucky border, the company often takes clients from Ohio to Kentucky. Kentucky law, however, prohibits Legacy from returning those clients to Ohio without first obtaining a Certificate of Need. Certificate of Need laws, in turn, grant existing businesses a veto power over any new competition. Represented free of charge by PLF, Phillip is fighting for the right to earn a living free of irrational government interference.