mark handler
SAWHORSE
Was ADA lawsuit a shakedown or deserving?
Jim Winsor
JIM WINSOR - SDGLN NIGHTLIFE COLUMNIST
September 5th, 2013
The Mo’s Universe family of restaurants/bars in Hillcrest (which includes Urban Mo’s, Baja Betty’s, Gossip Grill and the Hillcrest Brewing Company) has a solid reputation in the community for being a friendly and inviting place for all people, including those with disabilities.
For example, they recently helped sponsor a grassroots effort to raise $65,000 for a local disabled volunteer, donating thousands of dollars themselves to the cause.
Thus it came as a great surprise to many when they announced via their various Facebook pages that they had recently been hit with a lawsuit under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA):
“Our company has recently been sued by Chris Langer, a disabled gentleman with nearly 400 lawsuits filed in Southern California.
"We would like to bring attention to a current loophole in the Americans With Disabilities Act allows for an automatic judgment without any notice to the business to attempt to make a correction."
These lawsuits can be very expensive to the businesses that are on the receiving end of them, costing around $12,000 to settle once legal expenses are factored into the mix. And what horrific crimes against the disabled did Mo’s commit to warrant such a costly penalty?
“We are being sued because the stripes in our handicapped space were not wide enough. It was a correction we were happy to make, and one that has gone un-noticed for 21 years. Additionally, the area within the stripes must be clearly marked. A handicapped parking sign is not enough.”
There is no word yet on whether any other gay businesses in the Hillcrest area have been targeted by this litigation machine. Regardless, it’s probably wise for business owners to enlist the services of a qualified access specialist, and self-inspect yourself against a potential lawsuit.
Jim Winsor
JIM WINSOR - SDGLN NIGHTLIFE COLUMNIST
September 5th, 2013
The Mo’s Universe family of restaurants/bars in Hillcrest (which includes Urban Mo’s, Baja Betty’s, Gossip Grill and the Hillcrest Brewing Company) has a solid reputation in the community for being a friendly and inviting place for all people, including those with disabilities.
For example, they recently helped sponsor a grassroots effort to raise $65,000 for a local disabled volunteer, donating thousands of dollars themselves to the cause.
Thus it came as a great surprise to many when they announced via their various Facebook pages that they had recently been hit with a lawsuit under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA):
“Our company has recently been sued by Chris Langer, a disabled gentleman with nearly 400 lawsuits filed in Southern California.
"We would like to bring attention to a current loophole in the Americans With Disabilities Act allows for an automatic judgment without any notice to the business to attempt to make a correction."
These lawsuits can be very expensive to the businesses that are on the receiving end of them, costing around $12,000 to settle once legal expenses are factored into the mix. And what horrific crimes against the disabled did Mo’s commit to warrant such a costly penalty?
“We are being sued because the stripes in our handicapped space were not wide enough. It was a correction we were happy to make, and one that has gone un-noticed for 21 years. Additionally, the area within the stripes must be clearly marked. A handicapped parking sign is not enough.”
There is no word yet on whether any other gay businesses in the Hillcrest area have been targeted by this litigation machine. Regardless, it’s probably wise for business owners to enlist the services of a qualified access specialist, and self-inspect yourself against a potential lawsuit.
