Matthew W. Dietz, Esq.
Litigation Director – Disability Independence Group, Inc.
Matthew W. Dietz, Esq.Litigation Director – Disability Independence Group, Inc
Matthew W. Dietz is a litigation director and president of Disability Independence Group, Inc., a non-profit disability rights advocacy center in Miami, Florida. He has been practicing in the arena of civil rights litigation since 1996, and handled over 500 matters in administrative, trial and appellate courts involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act and other civil rights laws regarding the rights of Persons with Disabilities, and others seeking equal rights under the law on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, familial status, sexual orientation and gender identity. Mr. Dietz represents mostly victims of discrimination, and he has represented many local and national fair housing and disability organizations.
Mr. Dietz attended Boston University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1992. In 1996, he earned his Juris Doctorate with honors from Brooklyn Law School. He is admitted to all Florida and Georgia State and Federal Courts, and New York State Courts.
Mr. Dietz has been a very active writer, advocate and speaker on disability rights issues. He founded Disability Independence Group whose mission is to holistically expand opportunities for Persons with Disabilities through litigation, education, legislation, and activism.
Mr. Dietz has been involved in the Florida Bar as past chair of the Equal Opportunities in the Law Section and the Public Interest Law Section of the Florida Bar, and past chair of the Civil Rights Section of the American Association for Justice. In his work within the Florida Bar, Mr. Dietz drafted Florida Rule of Administrative Procedure 2.540, which provided guidelines for providing accommodations for Persons with Disabilities in Florida Courts. Mr. Dietz was also appointed to the Florida Supreme Court standing committee on Fairness and Diversity and the accessibility workgroup of the Florida Third District Court of Appeal, and Florida 11th Circuit Court in and for Miami Dade County. In 2004, he was awarded the Florida Bar President’s G. Kirk Haas Humanitarian Award for his work on behalf of persons with disabilities.