METHADONE CLINIC FIRM WINS APPEAL AGAINST COVINGTON

Judges Say City Discriminated

CINCINNATI (AP)- The city of Covington, Ky., discriminated against a
company that tried to open a metha-done clinic there to treat drug addicts,
a federal appeals court ruled yesterday.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of MX Group Inc.,
which uses methadone to treat drug addicts.

The appeals court's decision upheld U.S. District Judge William
Bertelsman's September 2000 ruling in favor of MX Group.

Company officials said Covington refused to issue MX Group a zoning permit
to open a treatment clinic in an area zoned for commercial use, then
amended Covington's zoning law to prevent the clinic from opening anywhere
in the Northern Kentucky city.

MX Group said that violated its rights under the Americans with
Disabilities Act by discriminating against the company because of its
association with potential clients, who are disabled by their addictions.

MX Group's applications in 1997 and 1998 for a permit to open the treatment
clinic prompted opposition by some Covington residents and support by others.

"The district court found that the blanket prohibition of all methadone
clinics from the entire city is discriminatory on its face. We agree with
that finding," appeals Judge Eric Clay wrote for the court.