Mary Vargas

Ms. Vargas is committed to ensuring full and equal access for all individuals. She has litigated cases pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act throughout the United States in federal and state courts. Notable cases include:

Argenyi v. Creighton University, 703, F.3d 441 (8th Cir. 2013). Successful appeal followed by plaintiff’s verdict at jury trial achieving right of deaf medical student to become a doctor with the use of captioning and interpreters provided by the university and overcoming university claims of undue burden.
Chisolm v. McManinom: Ms. Vargas represented a deaf individual who was arrested and held for several days without any access to communication. Ms. Vargas successfully argued the case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. 275 F.3d 315 (3rd Cir. 2001).

Howard v. Alabama Board of Pharmacy: Ms. Vargas represented a deaf pharmacist who brought suit against the Alabama Board of Pharmacy for refusing to permit her to use telecommunications relay services to receive prescriptions over the telephone. As part of the settlement, the state board of pharmacy agreed to permit the use of telecommunications relay services.

F.M., et al. v. Barbour County Bd. of Education, et al.: Ms. Vargas represented two deaf children who had been denied a free, appropriate public education in Alabama. The case resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement, believed to be the largest special education verdict at the time, including monetary damages, a period of unlimited compensatory education, and lifetime employment for the plaintiff children.
Majocha v. Pittsburgh, Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates, et al.: Ms. Vargas represented a deaf father and his hearing son, in a case alleging that an ear, nose and throat specialist refused to provide a sign language interpreter for the plaintiff father of the hearing patient, and ultimately refused to treat the plaintiff child. The case demonstrates the availability of claims by relatives for associational discrimination and resulted in a written decision from a Pennsylvania federal district court, which described the Plaintiffs’ case “as close as it gets to a smoking gun in federal court.” 166 F. Supp. 2d 316 (W.D. Pa. 2001).

Ms. Vargas also represents women who are denied access to reproductive care and coverage. She has successfully obtained full coverage of late term abortion claims through insurance appeals. She also speaks nationally on issues including women in law, movement building, discrimination, pain, food allergies and anaphylaxis, and reproductive rights.

Prior to joining Stein & Vargas, LLP, Ms. Vargas was a staff attorney with the National Association of the Deaf. Ms. Vargas was a 1998 Skadden Fellow and a 1994 Truman Scholar. Ms. Vargas was the 2010 recipient of the Advocacy for People with Pain Award from the American Academy of Pain Management. She wrote for the American Bar Association, Mental and Physical Disability Law Reporter.

Ms. Vargas obtained a B.S. in deaf education from the College of New Jersey, and a J.D. from the University of Connecticut, School of Law. While in law school, she was appointed to the Client Advocacy Board and served as student director of the Yale Law School, Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities Clinic.

Ms. Vargas is a member of the bars in Connecticut and Maryland. She is also admitted to the Third, Fifth, and Eighth Circuits. She associates with local counsel around the country in bringing cases of special importance to individuals with disabilities.