If you have been targeted by an ADA lawsuit, you have 3 possible responses: you can ignore it, settle it or fight it.
Ignoring it is simple, expensive and exactly what the other side wants. If you do not respond, they will ask the court for an “entry of default.” In many cases, this will be within a week of missing the deadline to answer their complaint, which is less than a month after you were served with the complaint. Then, after a time, they will ask the Court to decide your case. The Court will have to make the decision with only the information provided by the plaintiff and his lawyer. In other words, you are very likely to lose the case. Then the Court will issue a judgment against you. This will have three parts: $4,000 in statutory damages to the disabled plaintiff, attorney’s fees to his lawyers, which could range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on many factors, and that you repair the non-compliant features of your building in a certain time.
As you might imagine, this is the worst possible outcome. You will have to pay the most money and have to make repairs, no matter how expensive. Nonetheless, many business owners prefer to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the situation.
The second option is to settle it. This is the main way that the other side makes its money. Except for a few law firms, they will typically settle one of these cases for between $3,000 and $5,000. Occasionally, you can fight for slightly less payout or they will hold out for more money. Unfortunately, the most active law firms settle at more than double this amount, usually no less than $7,000, but typically $9 or even $10 thousand. As part of the settlement, they will ask you to make the repairs, often in a 6 month period.
The advantage to this option is the certainty. The payout and the end of the case are certain. Often, the law firm will be agreeable to a payment plan. They also don’t necessarily follow up on the demand to make repairs, although that is dangerous for the business, since it leaves them open to another lawsuit, sometimes only months after settling the first one. Several businesses have faced this problem of multiple lawsuits.
The third option is to fight it. Changes in California law have allowed a quick and cheap strategy to fight these cases and win. However, you will have to pay your own lawyers’ fess. Most lawyers do not understand how to fight these cases in an economical manner and will quote you a price based on a typical court case – $10 or $20 thousand or more. Because that price is so steep compared to the cost of settling, only the most motivated businesses will agree to fight the lawsuit.
However, our firm knows how to fight these cases and win for less than the cost of settlement. If you are served with an ADA lawsuit, think about your options and choose the best one for you. Call or meet with one of our attorneys for a free consolation to fully discuss your options and help determine the best path for you.