ADA Lawsuits in California
ADA signage rules and regulations have been a hot topic in the news recently, especially with all of the ADA lawsuits in California. Many businesses are facing expensive and time consuming lawsuits because their signs are not ADA compliant. Joe Pinchot of the Herald-online reports that PNC Bank, Huntington Bank, and First National Bank in Pennsylvania have been targeted; Garth Stapely of the Modesto Bee reports that, “more than 50 businesses Stanislaus and Merced Counties, CA have been sued by serial plaintiffs…” Fines range from $55,000 – $75,000 for a first offense and up to a maximum of $150,000 for subsequent offenses. (under title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) http://www.ada.gov/fed-reg-monetary-penalties.pdf)
Businesses can avoid being a target for these lawsuits by having their signage inspected to determine if they are compliant with new regulations. Replacing non-compliant signs with new ones is much more economical than paying fines, lawyers, and court costs.
