By Minh N. Vu and Kristina M. Launey
Seyfarth Synopsis: In this blog we examine data showing an unexpected drop in the number of Title III Americans with Disabilities Act suits filed so far in 2022, particularly in California.
The year 2021 was a blockbuster for ADA Title III lawsuits filed in federal court, with over 11,452 filings.
Continue Reading 2022 ADA Title III Mid-Year Federal Lawsuit Filings Drop 22% Compared To 2021
By Samantha L. Brooks, Karla Grossenbacher, and A. Scott Hecker
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 12, 2022, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued updated guidance for employers on the interplay of workplace bias laws and COVID-19 workplace testing, vaccinations, and other return-to-work issues, including reasonable accommodations and access to employees’ confidential medical information. Employers continue to face these
Continue Reading In Policy Pivot, EEOC Revises Pandemic Guidance To Move Away From A “Direct Threat” Analysis and Focus on “Business Necessity” As Employers Return Employees To The Workplace
By Ashley S. Jenkins and Minh N. Vu
Seyfarth Synopsis: Hotels have been fighting a tsunami of hotel reservations website lawsuits with good results so far.
In the past few years, a dozen or so plaintiffs represented by a handful of law firms have sued many hundreds of hotels for allegedly not providing enough accessibility information about their accessible
Continue Reading A Status Update on Hotel Reservations Website Lawsuits
By Minh N. Vu
Seyfarth Synopsis: We predict 2022 will look a lot like 2021 with roughly the same number of lawsuits and DOJ pushing the boundaries of the ADA.
Like 2020, 2021 was a tough year for businesses. Still dealing with the constantly-changing COVID-19 landscape, businesses were also bombarded with what may be another record number of ADA
Continue Reading Crystal Ball 2022: More Aggressive DOJ Enforcement, More Lawsuits, and Maybe a New Rulemaking
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Biden DOJ Civil Rights Division has been much more active than its predecessor in enforcing Title III of the ADA and supporting plaintiffs in pending litigation.
As we predicted in January, the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Biden Administration has been very busy. In the nine months since President Biden took
Continue Reading Biden Department of Justice Steps up ADA Title III Enforcement
Seyfarth Synopsis: Ninth Circuit concludes in trilogy of disability access cases that complaints must specifically allege unlawful conditions.
Over the years, ADA Title III complaints filed by the plaintiff’s bar have gotten progressively more vague with respect to the barriers alleged. This is no coincidence: Some have stated outright that they keep those allegations vague so businesses
Seyfarth Synopsis: Emotional support animals will no longer be categorized as “service animals” under the Air Carrier Access Act under new Department of Transportation regulations.
Questionable verifications for certain assistance animals have frustrated the airline industry for years. From peacocks to pigs, all sorts of furry and feathered companions have accompanied individuals on domestic
Continue Reading No More Friendly Skies for Emotional Support Animals
By Minh N. Vu and Kristina M. Launey
Seyfarth Synopsis: A Biden Administration DOJ will likely bring higher engagement and more aggressive enforcement on ADA Title III issues.
While the current administration may still be unwilling to concede the election, it appears there will indeed be a new administration in charge at the Department of Justice (DOJ) come January
Continue Reading How Will DOJ Enforce Title III of the ADA in a Biden Administration?
By Minh N. Vu and John W. Egan
Seyfarth Synopsis: Reopening businesses need to carefully consider how social distancing and other Covid-19 mitigation measures will impact customers with disabilities and be prepared to make adjustments.
Covid-19 has had a profound impact on the ways in which we use (or, more accurately, avoid) public accommodations spaces in recent months. As
Continue Reading Reopening Businesses Face Thorny Customer-Facing ADA Issues
By Minh Vu, Kristina Launey, and Susan Ryan
Seyfarth Synopsis: Data from the first six months of 2019 shows a 12% increase over 2018.
The task of counting the number of ADA Title III lawsuits filed in federal courts grows with the ever-increasing numbers of lawsuits. For the period from January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019,
Continue Reading Federal ADA Title III Lawsuit Numbers Continue to Climb in 2019