DENVER (AP) -- A gubernatorial appointee who filed dozens of federal disability lawsuits against Colorado businesses has resigned from the state board she chaired and dropped many of the cases.
Mellisa Umphenourtold the Denver Post she left the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council on March 20 because she didn't have the time to handle various commitments. Her resignation email to council Director Marcia Tewell cited "personal family concerns."
Umphenour noted that her resignation was not related to her decision to file 64 lawsuits over a two-month period against businesses she claimed did not comply with laws to accommodate people who are disabled.
Federal records show Umphenour has since dismissed nearly all of the cases. Eight were settled for undisclosed terms and three are ongoing.
Umphenour has a son with multiple disabilities, according to her bio on the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council website.
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