Last March, BizSense published a story called “The business of accessibility” about a Maryland lawyer who represented local defendants in their fight to force businesses to comply with the American with Disabilities Act.
The act requires landlords and business owners to remove architectural barriers that would impede the disabled from entering the business, such as a door with a steep stoop or not having accessible rest rooms.
Joel Zuckerman, the attorney from Maryland, filed about 67 cases on behalf of local clients between Jan. 1, 2005, and last March.
Since the original story ran, Zuckerman’s clients have filed 24 suits against Richmond area businesses. Five cases were filed this month against two Chesterfield shopping centers, Papa Ningo Mexican restaurant, McCormack’s Irish Pub and a downtown parking garage.
Over the past year, suits have been filed against Full Kee Chinese restaurant, Black Swan Books, McClean’s, Calabash Seafood and several other shopping centers.
The cost to upgrade the facilities typically cost a few thousand dollars, an amount that can strain a small business.
Here is an excerpt from last year’s story:
The recent filings against Carytown businesses are only a small part of the explosion of ADA compliance cases filed in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia over the past four years.
Shopping centers, restaurants and gas stations from all corners of the city have received ADA lawsuits from plaintiffs represented by Zuckerman. The list of defendants includes Ukrop’s Supermarkets, 3rd Street Diner, Extra Billy’s, Uppy’s Convenience Stores, Carytown Burgers and Fries, and Pocono Green Plaza.
Since Jan. 1, 2005, there have been 95 compliance cases submitted to the court, 67 of which were represented by Zuckerman. Seventy-seven of the cases have been filed in the past two years. Almost all of the cases are against businesses in the Richmond metro area. Prior to 2005, there is no record of any ADA compliance cases being filed in the court.
Read the rest of the original story here.
Last March, BizSense published a story called “The business of accessibility” about a Maryland lawyer who represented local defendants in their fight to force businesses to comply with the American with Disabilities Act.
The act requires landlords and business owners to remove architectural barriers that would impede the disabled from entering the business, such as a door with a steep stoop or not having accessible rest rooms.
Joel Zuckerman, the attorney from Maryland, filed about 67 cases on behalf of local clients between Jan. 1, 2005, and last March.
Since the original story ran, Zuckerman’s clients have filed 24 suits against Richmond area businesses. Five cases were filed this month against two Chesterfield shopping centers, Papa Ningo Mexican restaurant, McCormack’s Irish Pub and a downtown parking garage.
Over the past year, suits have been filed against Full Kee Chinese restaurant, Black Swan Books, McClean’s, Calabash Seafood and several other shopping centers.
The cost to upgrade the facilities typically cost a few thousand dollars, an amount that can strain a small business.
Here is an excerpt from last year’s story:
The recent filings against Carytown businesses are only a small part of the explosion of ADA compliance cases filed in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia over the past four years.
Shopping centers, restaurants and gas stations from all corners of the city have received ADA lawsuits from plaintiffs represented by Zuckerman. The list of defendants includes Ukrop’s Supermarkets, 3rd Street Diner, Extra Billy’s, Uppy’s Convenience Stores, Carytown Burgers and Fries, and Pocono Green Plaza.
Since Jan. 1, 2005, there have been 95 compliance cases submitted to the court, 67 of which were represented by Zuckerman. Seventy-seven of the cases have been filed in the past two years. Almost all of the cases are against businesses in the Richmond metro area. Prior to 2005, there is no record of any ADA compliance cases being filed in the court.
Read the rest of the original story here.
Ambulance chaser
I’ll bet if they just approached the owner of the business and brought it to their attention something would have been done about it saving the cost of attorney fees, court costs etc. It’s hard enough for small businesses to overcome government intervention much less lawsuits from hungry lawyers.
Tom– When I interviewed Zuckerman last year he said they send a letter to the business before filing suit with the objective of making the corrections without legal action. Most of the time though he said they ignored the letter. I’ve heard from a few biz owners who said they have gotten letters and dealt with the situation out of court.. Needless to say, it was still a pain in the neck for them.
I know it’s not politically correct to admit it, but all the “accommodations” Americans are compelled to make these days for every conceivable niche group, has become ridiculous. Open your eyes and admit it — how many empty handicap parking spots do you see in front of every business??! How often do you even see a handicap person in a public restroom?? I’d say between “rarely” and “almost never” !! Yet we’re forcing all consumers to pay higher prices to pay for “accommodations” (and attorney fees), and in the case of parking spots — more consumer inconvenience, since the “best… Read more »
Drewster-Are you really serious? Do you know why many of these parking spots are empty and the restrooms aren’t used? Because even with all the “accomodations” as you put it, it is hard for someone with a disability to get out. But they still deserve the right to have the option to get out whenever they like and to have as easy a time as possible. Many years ago, I spent a lot of time working for the Easter Seal Society at both of the camps that they ran. And while one is no longer around, one is still very… Read more »
If you’re a business owner opposed to making the “accomodation,” then you’re probably against most other civil rights legislation that provides equality to all citizens of the USA… you might as well have “whites only” signs on the front of your business. The difference here is that if you removed the sign, most people would be able to walk up the steps into your establishment, but you’d still be discriminating a section of the population. You’re obviously not a very good business person because at the cost of making an “accomodation” you’re willing to have a segment of the public… Read more »
Drewster, It has nothing to do with political correctness. It’s about discrimination; It’s about blocking out a group of people from participation in society. Trust me, you would feel very differently about this if a drunk driver hit your car tonight and you woke up in ICU tomorrow, paralyzed. You’d still have the right in this country (and some others) to go anywhere you want and in time, you’d thank your lucky stars the ADA exists. You don’t have to embrace a lower standard of living just because you dove into a shallow lake, got shot in the back, or… Read more »
When people think about ADA accommodations they almost always think just of wheelchair access. ADA also requires accommodation for people with hearing and vision impairments. I see almost nothing being done in our businesses or public buildings to accommodate people with these disabilities.