A large part of my law practice is defending business owners and land owners sued by predatory ADA plaintiffs throughout California. From vigorous defense tactics in the federal courts to efficient settlements, I have the tools to guide you through this difficult process.
Keep reading for general information about ADA lawsuit best practices.
A modest amount of money spent on preventative measures could save you thousands down the road.
Typically, an ADA demand letter will reference a vague “injury” or “injuries” and will state a demand for thousands of dollars to “settle” the case.
While most businesses want to make their facilities open and convenient for all Californians, these threats of legal action do little to advance the cause of disabled Americans. A cottage industry of professional plaintiffs has emerged that bring these claims repeatedly. Political leaders both in Sacramento and in Washington DC have called for reforms of the ADA laws to reign in these actions, but not much is actually being done to rein in the abuse.
Even with new laws, business owners need a lawyer on their side when faced with an ADA lawsuit or legal demand. Not every business owner has the time or expertise needed to resolve these complaints satisfactorily.
My law firm will properly address threatening ADA demand letters and represent you in court if a lawsuit is filed against your business.
Average number of new ADA lawsuits filed each and every month in California.
In situations where no actual denial of access has occurred, I am prepared to defend your business all the way through a jury trial. I will fight for you and your business reputation in these situations.
If you receive an ADA demand in the mail or if you are served with a lawsuit, contact my law firm immediately. Time is of the essence and you do not want to be unprepared.
Don’t settle an ADA lawsuit or demand without first talking to an attorney. Call me at (916) 333-2222 if you have been served with a lawsuit or demand.
Most ADA lawsuits in California are filed by a small number of professional ADA law firms. Here is a list of the most prolific ADA filers in California.
The Center for Disability Access is probably the top filer in California. They operate statewide, from San Diego to Sacramento.
Common named plaintiffs include: Scott Johnson, Chris Langer, Samuel Love, Cecil Shaw, Nehemiah Kong, Brian Whitaker, Shirley Lindsay, James Zarian, Daniel Lopez, Rafael Arroyo, Robert Elguezabal, Raul Uriarte-Limon, Scott Schutza, Orland Sylve, Chuck Bellone, Oziel Sawyer, and Samuel Zarian.
Tanya Moore’s law firm used to be called “The Moore Law Firm.” Now they go by the name “The Mission Law Firm.” Tanya Moore is based out of San Jose.
Common named plaintiffs include: Albert Dytch, Arthur Owens, Cecil Shaw, Cleveland Vickers, Francisca Moralez, Hendrik Block, Jose Acosta, Jose Escobedo, Jose Trujillo, Rachel Bryant, Rachel Lobato, Robert Kalani, Ronald Moore, and Ronny-Marie Wilson.
Peter Strojnik does business as the “Strojnik Firm LLC” and operates out of Phoenix, Arizona. Peter is licensed to practice law in California. His main client that files ADA lawsuits in California appears to be Theresa Brooke. We find that they tend to focus on suing hotels and motels throughout California.
Attorneys Paul Rein & Aaron Clefton operate out of Oakland, California. Rein & Clefton tend to file their lawsuits in the Northern District of California. They mostly sue businesses both large and small and property owners in the Bay Area. Rein & Clefton tend to represent a diverse set of plaintiffs. As opposed to some other ADA lawsuit filers that don’t actually care about accessibility, Rein & Clefton place a large emphasis on correcting ADA violations as a part of their litigation strategy.
Richard Mac Bride is an attorney with an office in Richmond, California. Mac Bride’s main named plaintiffs appear to be Jose Daniel Castillo-Antonio who is alleged to have severely limited use of his legs and Richard Sepulveda. Most of Mac Bride’s lawsuits are filed in the Bay Area.
Daniel Malakauskas is a young attorney that appears to specialize in plaintiff-side ADA litigation. Daniel recently moved to Las Vegas, Nevada from Stockton, California. Common plaintiffs include: Cynthia Hopson and Meryl Pomponio.
Joseph Manning and his law firm Manning Law, APC operate out of Newport Beach, California. Manning Law has been at the forefront of ADA litigation surrounding website accessibility. They file lawsuits both in the state and federal courts. We have been seeing an increase in ADA lawsuits filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Cesar Cotto is a common litigant.
Other common Plaintiffs Manning uses to file these lawsuits are: James Rutherford, Joseph Sanchez, and Carmen John Perri.
In most Federal ADA lawsuits, you have just 21 days to formally respond to lawsuit after being served. Don’t delay. Failing to respond can result in a default judgment against you. We can help.