Tahoe state reps set meetings on ADA concerns
Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Rocklin, and Assemblywoman Beth Gaines, R-Rocklin, along with local chambers of commerce, California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, and Lawyers Against Lawsuit Abuse, have teamed up to host a series of workshops for small businesses focused on Americans with Disability Act issues.
These events are in response to the alarming number of lawsuits being filed in the region against small businesses for minor ADA/accessibility issues like having incorrect railing height or parking lot striping color. Many of these businesses have been forced to close their doors because they can’t afford to operate after settling these lawsuits.
During the workshops, Assemblywoman Gaines will provide information on her two measures, Assembly Bills 1878 and 1879, aimed at curtailing frivolous ADA lawsuits and pinpointing conflicting state and federal ADA regulations.
Attendees will also receive a walk-through of what they need to know about ADA lawsuits including how to reduce their risk of being sued, and what to do if they have already have been sued.
Panelists will also include Tom Scott, executive director for California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse and David Peters, CEO and general counsel for Lawyers Against Lawsuit Abuse who has been consulted in more than 850 ADA lawsuits throughout the U.S.
Rocklin: March 26, 6-8pm, Rocklin Sunset Center – Main Hall 2650 Sunset Blvd.
Orangevale: March 27, 7-9am, Orangevale Community Center – Auditorium, 6826 Hazel Ave.
Placerville: April 25, 7-9am, Town Hall, 549 Main St.
Truckee: April 30, 6-8pm, Truckee Donner PUD – Board Chambers 11570 Donner Pass Road.
These attorneys should redirect their focus and give those with disabilities or the low income the same access and considerations to due process as they do their high roller clients maybe things would change. Grant funded assistance programs do not always address the right issues for these persons in a court of law. That is IF they are enabled to file suit or counter sue. Who is really doing the abusing here?
What do you do for a living, Connie? Much as I dislike a LOT of what lawyers do and how they do it, they DO have the right to get paid for the work they do. They generally have large student loans, big expenses (malpractice insurance) as well as the usual costs that any of us has. You can’t insist that it’s their moral duty to work for less. Altruism is great, but not mandatory.
This seems like a worthwhile effort. With the state of the California economy the last thing we need are more businesses being shut down because of unneeded lawsuits. Providing access is a good thing, disabled people using the law to make money and in the process shutting down small businesses and the livelihood of all those who work for those businesses is not.
Disabled people are not the ones using the law to make money the lawyers are making the money and in the process shutting down small businesses and the livelihood of all those who work for those businesses it has been one small group of Lawyers Abusing the disabled by lawsuits on business and they don’t even live in our community.
It is important to understand that many disabled people are equally angered by the predatory nature of this man and his attorneys. For him, it is not so much about respect,caring, and help for those with disabilities as it is about his own greed.