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Disabled 'professional plaintiff' deported to Mexico
http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/politics/disabled-professional-plaintiff-deported-to-mexico/article/394753
Alfredo Garcia is a convicted felon and undocumented immigrant who has filed more than 800 lawsuits against businesses under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In response he was recently deported back to Mexico.
Garcia became disabled when he fell out of an avocado tree while drinking and using cocaine nearly 18 years earlier. Since then reports from places such as ABC 7 say that he has spent a large amount of his time filing lawsuits. He allegedly filed $1.2 million worth of lawsuits against California businesses
Garcia had previously been arrested for immigration violations but had not yet been deported. He was later removed from the country in July. Before his deportation he was receiving waivers for his legal fees from the court and makes money from each case. Media coverage was mostly focused on the amount this was theoretically costing taxpayers.
Alleged abuse of the ADA is something that lawyers and government officials have watched the situation for some time. Authorities in each sector claim that many convicted felons use this act to make money. Garcia's deportation is directly related to this as well.
As for the ADA itself this law does help some disabled people who need it. For example Michael Argeny had been unable to get the help he needed from his medical school until winning his case. Now he can get the captioning he needs to learn properly within his classes.
ADA programs have also been controversial because some argue that it provides a reason for people not to hire disabled workers. Rates of employment did fall for disabled people after approval of the law. Whether this is a direct cause or coincidence is still being debated.
Federal law is clear about the fact that Garcia must testify in each case but cannot do so from Mexico. Judges will likely drop each case if he does not return.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/politics/disabled-professional-plaintiff-deported-to-mexico/article/394753
Alfredo Garcia is a convicted felon and undocumented immigrant who has filed more than 800 lawsuits against businesses under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In response he was recently deported back to Mexico.
Garcia became disabled when he fell out of an avocado tree while drinking and using cocaine nearly 18 years earlier. Since then reports from places such as ABC 7 say that he has spent a large amount of his time filing lawsuits. He allegedly filed $1.2 million worth of lawsuits against California businesses
Garcia had previously been arrested for immigration violations but had not yet been deported. He was later removed from the country in July. Before his deportation he was receiving waivers for his legal fees from the court and makes money from each case. Media coverage was mostly focused on the amount this was theoretically costing taxpayers.
Alleged abuse of the ADA is something that lawyers and government officials have watched the situation for some time. Authorities in each sector claim that many convicted felons use this act to make money. Garcia's deportation is directly related to this as well.
As for the ADA itself this law does help some disabled people who need it. For example Michael Argeny had been unable to get the help he needed from his medical school until winning his case. Now he can get the captioning he needs to learn properly within his classes.
ADA programs have also been controversial because some argue that it provides a reason for people not to hire disabled workers. Rates of employment did fall for disabled people after approval of the law. Whether this is a direct cause or coincidence is still being debated.
Federal law is clear about the fact that Garcia must testify in each case but cannot do so from Mexico. Judges will likely drop each case if he does not return.
