Are “Drive-by” ADA Violation Lawsuits Targeting Small Hotels Fair?

 Over the past decade, the public has come to depend on websites to do everything from book a hotel room to update their flight plans. With that in mind, the Justice Department prudently began issuing formal regulations for websites to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Regulations ensure equal access to websites under the law for people with vision or hearing problems, for instance.)  But last December, according to a story in the Los Angeles Times, the agency announced it was withdrawing its rulemaking process as the Trump administration was calling for a rollback of federal regulations. The consequences of the deregulation: a maelstrom of lawsuits on behalf of people with disabilities, many of whom are frustrated by businesses’ lack of compliance with ADA law. But how are businesses responding? Who is responsible for the 30% growth of the lawsuits in a single year? And how exactly does a business ensure its website is ADA compliant? Answering those questions can be time-consuming and costly. READ MORE.