Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

<b><i>In the Spotlight:</i></b> Frustration with ADA Lawsuits

BY Christopher M. Moody
May 02, 2015

No matter what side they are on, those persons involved in disability access lawsuits have one thing in common ' frustration. People with disabilities are frustrated when they meet obstacles in parking, shopping or using a restroom because of the way a building has been built or designed. Landowners, and particularly shopping center owners, are frustrated by the number of frequent suits demanding big money and attorneys' fees. There is now a cottage industry surrounding the filing of ADA lawsuits that has spread from Florida and California to the rest of the country. If it is not in your town or your state, it will be soon. Many of these claims are being brought by serial litigants who work frequently with the same lawyers.

In almost every case, the first notice that the landowner, shopping center or other business entity has of the complaint is the filing of the federal lawsuit. Many of the cases are quickly settled, with the business owner paying less than $5,000 and agreeing to fix whatever was wrong. The ADA was passed during the administration of George H.W. Bush and he seemed to predict some of these unintended consequences.

However, Congress at the time did not wish to add bureaucracy to be required to enforce the law. Our courts also agree that enforcement could be handled through private lawsuits. Several bills seeking to remedy or reform the ADA have been proposed by Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL), but they have failed to clear committee. There is hope that perhaps Congress will consider some reasonable changes that will at the very least require notice to the landowner, and an opportunity to remedy within a reasonable time, before they are exposed to an arbitrarily filed federal lawsuit.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.