By Minh N. Vu, Kristina Launey, and Susan Ryan
Seyfarth Synopsis: The two-year decline in ADA Title III filings stopped in 2024, with plaintiffs increasing filings back to 8,800 complaints in 2024.
When we first started tracking ADA Title III lawsuits in 2013, the total for the year was only 2,722. The number climbed steadily to an all-time
Continue Reading ADA Title III Federal Lawsuit Numbers Rebound to 8,800 in 2024
By: Ashley S. Jenkins and Minh N. Vu
Seyfarth synopsis: The DOJ’s new step-by-step guidance for state and local governments on how to comply with new regulations that mandate accessible web content is also useful for public accommodations looking to make their websites and mobile apps accessible to individuals with disabilities.
In April 2024, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) published
Continue Reading The DOJ Provides Practical Guidance on How to Implement a Digital Accessibility Program
By Minh N. Vu
Seyfarth Synopsis: 2024 saw some interesting developments and an uptick in lawsuit filings from 2023; expect less ADA Title III enforcement and rulemaking activity from DOJ in 2025.
The first quarter of this century concluded with yet another busy year for ADA Title III litigation. While we are still finalizing the numbers, 2024 saw a meaningful
Continue Reading Our 2024 ADA Title III Recap and Predictions for 2025
Seyfarth Synopsis: AB 1757, which would set a standard for website accessibility for businesses in California, has been held in the Legislature to resume discussion in 2024.
While Southern California and Burning Man revelers were hit with unprecedented severe storms in August, the California Legislature has given businesses at least a temporary reprieve from legislation that
Continue Reading California Assembly Bill on Website Accessibility Downgraded from Potential Lawsuit Tsunami to 2024 Weather Watch
By John W. Egan, Dov Kesselman, and Ashley S. Jenkins
A recent “Dear Colleague” letter issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education (OCR) places colleges and universities on notice of recent enforcement activities under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section
Continue Reading OCR and DOJ Send A Message to Higher Ed: Make Your Websites Accessible
By Minh N. Vu
Seyfarth synopsis: The Ninth Circuit holds that a restaurant’s practice of exclusively providing service at the drive-through and refusing to serve pedestrians at the drive-through line does not violate the ADA.
Many fast food restaurants nowadays take food orders and deliver food exclusively at the drive-through window during certain business hours. Due to safety concerns, at
Continue Reading Ninth Circuit Says Restaurant Does Not Discriminate Against the Blind By Providing Only Drive-Through Service
Seyfarth Synopsis: California enacts new law, effective January 1, 2022, to crack down on fraudulent emotional support dogs.
Yesterday, September 16, having just defeated a recall effort, California Governor Newsom signed into law a bill, AB 468, that will impose various requirements, effective January 1, 2022, designed to curb emotional support animal fraud.
To be clear,
Continue Reading California Governor Takes Action to Combat Emotional Support Animal Fraud
By the Seyfarth ADA Title III Specialty Team
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Seyfarth ADA Title III Specialty Team shares thirty tips for how to provide great service to people with disabilities in three fun and informative videos.
Celebrate Global Disability Awareness Day by learning more about how to provide a great experience for your customers with disabilities! Our popular three-part video
By Kristina M. Launey & Minh N. Vu
Seyfarth Synopsis: ADA Title III website accessibility lawsuits filed in federal courts in 2020 jumped a surprising 12% over 2019, in spite of a mid-year pandemic dip in filings.
The numbers are in for total website accessibility lawsuit filings in federal courts in 2020, and to our surprise they show a
Continue Reading Federal Website Accessibility Lawsuits Increased in 2020 Despite Mid-Year Pandemic Lull
By Minh N. Vu
Seyfarth Synopsis: California state courts are becoming an even friendlier jurisdiction for plaintiffs filing lawsuits about allegedly inaccessible websites.
The U.S. Court Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has longstanding precedent that only businesses with a brick and mortar location that customers can physically visit are “public accommodations” covered by Title III of the Americans with Disabilities
Continue Reading A Second California State Court Judge Says the ADA Covers Online-Only Businesses