M. Geron Gadd
M. Geron Gadd

M. Geron Gadd

Senior Attorney

Geron Gadd is a litigator whose practice focuses on enforcing the rights of people with disabilities to vital services and supports and eliminating artificial barriers to health care. Geron has worked to expand access to home and community-based services, including mental health services, as well as to reduce the unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities, in federal and state courts throughout the country.

Prior to joining the National Health Law Program, Geron served as the Legal Director of the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, Alabama’s protection and advocacy system, and as counsel in a number of class actions involving claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Medicaid Act.  Geron’s representative matters include:

  • Isaac A., et al. v. Carlson, et al., No. 1:24-cv-00037-AT (N.D. Ga.) (class action seeking expansion of home and community-based mental health services for children with serious emotional disturbance under the Medicaid Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act);
  • C.A., et al. v. Garcia, No. 4:23-cv-00009-SHL-HCA (S.D. Iowa) (class action seeking expansion of home and community-based mental health services for children with serious emotional disturbance under the Medicaid Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act);
  • A.A., et al. v. Gee, No. 3:19-cv-00770-BAJ-SDJ (M.D. La.) (class action seeking expansion of home and community-based mental health services for children with mental health conditions under the Medicaid Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act);
  • S.J., et al. v. Tidball, No. 2:20-cv-04036-MDH (W.D. Mo.) (class action on behalf of medically fragile children seeking provision of private duty nursing services under the Medicaid Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act);
  • Price, et al. v. New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner, No. 21-cv-25-PB (D.N.H.) (class action seeking provision of Medicaid waiver services to persons with physical disabilities who face a risk of unnecessary institutionalization under the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and Medicaid Act);
  • Brown, et al. v. District of Columbia, No. 1:10-cv-02250-PLF (D.D.C.) (class action seeking to enforce the rights of adults with physical disabilities who are unnecessarily institutionalized to community-based services under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act);
  • Hunter, et al. v. Beshear, No. 2:16-cv-798 (M.D. Ala.) (class action resulting in consent decree requiring the Alabama Department of Mental Health to timely provide court-ordered psychiatric services);
  • Settlement Agreement with the Alabama Medicaid Agency, Alabama Department of Mental Health, and Alabama Department of Human Resources to expand services available to children with severe emotional disturbance and autism spectrum disorders under the state’s Early and Periodic, Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment obligation (entered prior to filing);
  • Settlement Agreement with the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to expand community-based services for adults institutionalized in nursing facilities for mental health (entered prior to filing).

Geron began her legal career in New York, New York and Miami, Florida, where she represented corporate clients in intellectual property, securities, and related commercial disputes.  In 2011, Geron returned to Alabama, from which her family hails, to focus on public interest litigation on behalf of people with disabilities and in a range of civil rights matters.  She is admitted to practice in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Florida, and New York.

 

Geron is deeply committed to expanding equity in and beyond her legal work.  Prior to joining the National Health Law Program, she served as an AARP Foundation representative on AARP’s enterprise-wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.

 

Geron earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Methodist University, a master’s degree in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

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