At least five more businesses, most in Yucca Valley, have been sued by a man who claims they are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. Some of the violations include not having proper handicap-accessible parking spaces, lack of signage for the parking spaces, and faded paint for the handicap parking spaces. Managing editor Tami Roleff says some business owners are forced to pay thousands of dollars to settle the lawsuits…
According to one court records website, Samuel Love has filed at least 75 lawsuits against businesses in California since 2014, including against the Glenn Realty in Yucca Valley, as well as a couple of gas stations, liquor and convenience stores, and even a restaurant. Ethan Feltges, the owner of Coyote Corner in Joshua Tree, was sued in May by another man. He calls the lawsuits “legalized extortion” because it is more costly to fight the suits—estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars—than to pay the plaintiff $5,000 to $10,000 to make the lawsuit go away. Feltges said he plans to hire a certified access specialist, who inspects his business and tells him what changes are needed to come into compliance with ADA regulations. Bills have been introduced in both the California Assembly and the US Congress to give businesses time to fix issues not in compliance, but none has been passed yet.
MORE LOCAL BUSINESSES SUED FOR ADA NON-COMPLIANCE
