During a workshop on Tuesday, roughly 20 people learned how businesses can avoid lawsuits that claim they violated accessibility laws for people with disabilities.
Hosted by the Valley Economic Alliance and California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, the workshop was part of a roughly yearlong effort to get businesses and restaurants compliant with accessibility laws as Glendale and surrounding cities gear up to host athletes participating in the Special Olympics World Summer Games, said Michael Hadley of the Valley Economic Alliance.Read more…
Robert McCarthy is a serial litigant. And the Americans With Disabilities Act is the weapon he uses to shake down his victims.
Since 2001, McCarthy has filed more than 250 lawsuits against small businesses throughout the Golden State, alleging various violations under the federal law (which, in turn, constitute violations of California’s Civil Code).
Every infraction can cost $4,000. And with McCarthy alleging multiple infractions in most of his ADA suits, his victims have considerable motivation to pay him a reduced settlement to go away.
Here’s what particularly galls about McCarthy, who shamelessly exploits the fact that he is wheelchair-bound: He’s not a California resident. He resides in an Arizona assisted-living facility.
It’s because he finds California such a target-rich environment for ADA litigation that he makes a yearly trip to our fair state to seek out fresh prey. Read more…
News10 looks into how some attorneys who specialize in Americans with Disbilities Act compliance violations do business.
ADA lawsuits investigated News10 looks into how some attorneys who … in Americans with Disbilities Act compliance violations do business. violations ada lawsuits disability investigation local News evening KXTV
SACRAMENTO – At Fine Line Trim & Upholstery in Rancho Cordova, owner Victor Valdivia is paying a price.
“Every month it’s $2,000,” Valdivia said.
Those monthly payments go to Valdivia’s attorney as he fights a lawsuit brought by a Carmichael man for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.
The lawsuit was brought by 51-year-old Scott Johnson.
Streamwood man’s letters to businesses target ADA compliance
Melissa Jaros didn’t know what to think when she received an unexpected letter in the mail on Aug. 29.
A man she didn’t know was threatening to sue her if she didn’t send him $5,000 and make changes to the parking lot of her Streamwood business, Grooming Unleashed.
Streamwood lawyer threatens lawsuits over lack of handicapped spaces
The letter, written by disabled Streamwood resident Andrew Straw, stated Jaros’ business is in violation of the American with Disabilities Act and because of that, he was seeking damages and a quick fix that included curb cuts and better signage for handicapped parking.
Confused and a bit offended, Jaros threw out the letter.
Grooming Unleashed is one of more than a dozen businesses Straw sent the correspondence to a few weeks ago. His demand letters have created a stir among members of the village’s business community, many of whom are suspicious of his intentions. The executive director of the Streamwood Chamber of Commerce even called police after getting the letter, worried it was a scam.
In partnership with current and former service members, the National Council on Disability (NCD) – an independent federal agency that advises the President, Congress and other federal agencies on disability policy – has released a report titled, “Clearing the Backlog and Facilitating Benefits for America’s Veterans.” The 80-page report includes opinions and evaluations by key stakeholders, buoyed by the insights of experts, in addressing the current state of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims backlog.
NCD thanks Paralyzed Veterans of America for numerous, invaluable contributions in preparing this report.
“In the same spirit with which Americans honor all Veterans for their service to our country, the National Council on Disability has chosen National Military Families month and the day after Veterans Day to offer these recommendations to help clear the backlog in getting necessary supports to U.S. Veterans,” said NCD member Captain Jonathan Kuniholm, USMC (Retired). “Making good on the promises made to Veterans with service-connected disabilities and health issues, financial uncertainty, and other hardships when adjusting to civilian life in a timely manner is the least that we can do for those ‘who shall have borne the battle.’ NCD hopes this report can facilitate meaningful improvements across numerous areas of concern.”
“NCD’s findings and recommendations focus on necessary actions that need to be taken to reduce the VA claims backlog,” said NCD member Janice Lehrer-Stein. “Improvements have been made, but more needs to be done. NCD recognizes the important and ongoing progress that has been made to date and remains available to assist in the collaboration of all federal agencies to find the best and most coordinated way forward.”
ALC Construction, llc a Construction Management Company based in Woodland hills, California employees have a long experience in ADA Compliance. From Macy’s to shopping mall ADA Compliance ALC Construction, llc employees have been working on many ADA Compliance with ADA Specialist delivering a full ADA report at completion of the work. ALC Construction, llc. Specialist team of builder will take care of stripping, asphalt, path of travel, parking, bathroom, interior or exterior work within ADA regulations. This Construction Management Company will handle you ADA project from A to Z. American with Disabilies Act is a must for business owner today. Our team will assist you in making your building, parking and facilities compliant with ADA standard. Call ALC Construction, llc. today at 818-224-3430 for all you ADA needs.
Title I requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide qualified individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the full range of employment-related opportunities available to others. For example, it prohibits discrimination in recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, pay, social activities, and other privileges of employment. It restricts questions that can be asked about an applicant’s disability before a job offer is made, and it requires that employers make reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities, unless it results in undue hardship. Religious entities with 15 or more employees are covered under title I.
Title I complaints must be filed with the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days of the date of discrimination, or 300 days if the charge is filed with a designated State or local fair employment practice agency. Individuals may file a lawsuit in Federal court only after they receive a “right-to-sue” letter from the EEOC.
Charges of employment discrimination on the basis of disability may be filed at any U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission field office. Field offices are located in 50 cities throughout the U.S. and are listed in most telephone directories under “U.S. Government.” For the appropriate EEOC field office in your geographic area, contact:
Law School Admission Council Suit Becomes National Class Action
ADA News
In October of 2012, a federal judge issued an order allowing the U.S. Justice Department to intervene in a disability discrimination lawsuit against the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The department’s intervention expands the case from a statewide class action limited to California residents to a nationwide pattern or practice lawsuit.
The lawsuit, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing v. LSAC Inc. et al., charges LSAC with widespread and systemic deficiencies in the way it processes requests by people with disabilities for testing accommodations for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). As a result, the lawsuit alleges, LSAC fails to provide testing accommodations where needed to best ensure that those test takers can demonstrate their aptitude and achievement level rather than their disability.
Also, the measure requires landlords to disclose whether their buildings or properties are state certified and in compliance with ADA laws. The bill — which will take effect immediately after getting Brown’s signature — hopefully will resolve …
Mason has described Sceper as a disabled person “who is a potential customer” of each of the businesses, and was denied access to the business because it was in violation of ADA requirements. “Because you have not complied with those mandates, you …
City Slickers is Dority’s livehood, and now the target of an attorney known for filing ADA compliance suits in the area. “It’s a scam; the whole thing is a scam,” said Dority. Dority has always tried to make his place wheelchair friendly. After all, he …
Rick King, owner of Corning Auto Center at 1820 Solano St., places a temporary notice up in his business notifying anyone and everyone he is in the process of making his business Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. Julie R. Johnson/Corning Observer
“All of the attorneys I have talked to, and there have been plenty of them, told me that while the letter isn’t legally binding, it is fair warning and that I am better off settling now and becoming ADA compliant than to fight it.” If he doesn’t settle and become …
M1 Construction, inc. ADA Compliance Consultant Present ADA Compliance News
“All of the attorneys I have talked to, and there have been plenty of them, told me that while the letter isn’t legally binding, it is fair warning and that I am better off settling now and becoming ADA compliant than to fight it.” If he doesn’t settle and become …
M1 Constriction, Inc. ADA Specialist Present ADA Compliance News
Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s introduction of a bill to lessen the impact of ADA for small businesses sounds on the surface to be a good thing. California faces the worst recession since the 1930s and to save small business, even a few dollars seems like a worthy cause.
I spend a considerable amount of time traveling around the country. I find significant difference in accessibility between the rest of the country and California. I am a wheelchair rider and accessibility is important to me.
In California, my expectation of accessibility even with small businesses is fulfilled about 90% of time. In other parts of the country, I am lucky if it is fulfilled 30% of the time. The reason is that in California, there is stricter enforcement of ADA.
We are an aging population and with aging, mobility issues emerge. Elders buy. Many times, the cost of accessibility is less than $1,000 and the use of common sense. Instead of creating new laws which may weaken ADA, let’s use existing organizations to help small business to become more accessible and keep ADA strong. Call your local Independent Living Center — they can help.
M1 Construction, Inc. ADA Consultant Present ADA Compliance News
LOS ANGELES – LawFuel.com – Law Newswire – Starline Tours of Hollywood, Inc., the oldest and largest sightseeing tour company in Los Angeles, has agreed to reform its policies and practices to settle allegations that it was violating the Americans with .
Hollywood tour operator settles disability discrimination claims
After some wrangling, during which Champlin referred the company to ADA requirements, she and others attending the ataxia conference were able to book the 7 1/2 hour “Deluxe Grand City Tour of Los Angeles and Stars’ Homes.” At 7:30 a.m. the morning of …
M1 Construction, Inc. ADA Consultant Present ADA Compliance News
CITYWIDE — Starline Tours of Hollywood, Inc., one of the oldest and largest sightseeing companies in Los Angeles with several stops in Santa Monica, entered.
ADA Service ADA Compliance 