NFIB, the Coalition for Common Sense, and Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch recently hosted a lunch-and-learn workshop in Metairie on Tuesday, Sept. 19, to discuss ways small-business owners can protect themselves against lawsuits alleging minor violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Organizers said Louisiana has seen a spike in ADA lawsuits since 2011. Often, the suits are brought by plaintiffs who “engage in what I call drive-by litigation,” said keynote speaker David Whitaker, a partner in the law firm of Kean Miller LLP. “They have no intent of being a customer of the business or even dealing with the business but are simply trolling and looking for opportunities to find lawsuit fodder.”
NFIB State Director Dawn Starns said legal and compliance costs can be devastating to a small, family-owned business. “A (single) judgment against a small-business owner can put them out of business overnight,” she said.
Louisiana Hometown Network covered the event. Watch its coverage below.
