The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a crucial piece of legislation that protects the rights of those with disabling medical conditions. It is not legal for employers, landlords or even business owners to discriminate against those with disabilities.
Failing to offer reasonable accommodations that allow someone access to a business and its resources can constitute a violation of the ADA. Many people who bring lawsuits against companies under the ADA do so after they experience personal hardship. However, there are certainly others who abuse this system for personal gain rather than the protection of people with disabilities.
People can sue businesses they do not visit
In theory, any business should make itself accessible to those with disabilities. Ramps and accessible bathrooms are very important to those who need assistive technology to move through the world. Those who cannot access certain spaces or services can use the ADA to file a lawsuit and compel that company to bring its facilities into compliance.
Unfortunately, some individuals have discovered that this is a means to make money by suing businesses that they don’t work for or even patronize. For example, a man here in California has become well known for filing dozens of ADA lawsuits and turning them into a stream of personal revenue.
Many of the people targeted by these serial filing plaintiffs feel victimized because their facilities are adequate and the person making allegations against the company was never a patron, nor did they intend to be one. Learning about common abuse is of ADA lawsuits can help you explore how to defend your company against one.