Nearly 12,000 people filed lawsuits under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 2021. That’s an increase of 4 percent over the previous year and an increase of 320 percent since 2013.
ADA Compliance Can Be Costly to Companies
“We have seen the number of lawsuits filed in federal courts alleging violations of Title III increase almost every year since we started tracking in 2013,” said Kristina Launey, a litigator with Seyfarth Shaw. “Thousands of lawsuits are filed each year alleging websites and mobile applications are not coded so that they are accessible to individuals who are blind.”
ADA Title III Federal Lawsuits Filed
California Leads The Way
In California, a total of 5,930 ADA Disability Lawsuits were filed by Plaintiffs from 2010-2017. New York was second with 2,774 ADA Lawsuits, and Florida came third with 1,050 ADA Disability Lawsuits.
California Unruh Civil Rights Act
California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act contributed to the high number of ADA lawsuits in the state because a plaintiff can receive $4,000 in statutory damages per incident and attorney fees. Californians with disabilities have won more than $295 million and counting in jury verdicts and settlements under the Unruh Civil Rights Act by filing complaints with the California Department of Justice. The Unruh Act amends the ADA to protect from discrimination by business establishments in California, including housing and public accommodations.