Letters to the Editor 2-19-26

Cappers

Dear ER: 

I am an attorney who has represented numerous clients sued on ADA law suits. (“Predatory ADA lawsuits attack Hermosa businesses,” ERNews February 12, 2026). Originally I saw lawsuits alleging ADA parking violations, restroom fixture problems and counter height issues. But now clients are being sued because their websites do not comply with recommended standards. Others because they email customers outside of business hours where the customer resides. I have won the cases I have taken to trial because the plaintiffs are little more than cappers for lawyers who file hundreds of these lawsuits each month. The plaintiffs are very poor witnesses with little credibility. In one case I won, the plaintiff did not know what the business with the alleged noncompliant parking sold. I do not solicit these clients because I have never been able to defend a case for less than the settlement demand.

Robert Aronoff
Hermosa Beach

Blood money

Dear ER:

I’ve been a lawyer in Los Angeles County for 45-years and I’ve represented a number of local stores who have been targeted by these scam attorneys who claim to represent ADA clients (“Predatory ADA lawsuits attack Hermosa businesses,” ERNews February 12, 2026). While there is a need for ADA accessibility, the lawyers who write these demand letters are just looking for blood money from small businesses who can’t generally afford to fight back against the claims. The lawyers take a very large cut from any blood money paid by the small business and the affected person is just the key to open the door to these extortion suits. There is no easy solution to the problem.

James Hinds

Torrance

Legal tribute

Dear ER:

I have been an attorney for over 30 years. The ADA and the California equivalent is the biggest scam going (“Predatory ADA lawsuits attack Hermosa businesses,” ERFacebook, February, 2026). Handicapped people hook up with shady lawyers and go from one mom and pop business to another and, invariably, there will be one bathroom mirror hung too high, or one ramp slightly steeper than allowed, or one toilet stall without every safety bar in place. I represented a fast food restaurant in Carson with three tables inside for handicapped people, but none outside because they were round concrete tables with concrete benches built around the tables. My client was sued because the claimant “wanted to eat outside.” The law forced my client to pay tribute of about $5,000. The claimant stops at about 10 locations per day. He and his lawyer split the proceeds. It’s a mill. And they make millions.

Mark Sarni

ER Facebook comment

Fix it’s the ticket

Dear ER:

As the parent of a someone with a disability I find this appalling. If the business is willing to correct the issue(s) in a timely manner, case closed (“Predatory ADA lawsuits attack Hermosa businesses,” ERFacebook, February, 2026).. Serial suing isn’t the answer unless they refuse to correct the problem. We’ve been in many frustrating situations regarding access but I’ve never even entertained the idea of suing. I will say even “less than an inch” from one level to another is an issue for a wheelchair user.

Sue Gavin

ER Facebook comment

Support the locals

Dear ER:

Every business in Hermosa needs to support the Yoo’s in their lawsuit. The only way to stop this extortion is to make it painful enough for the plaintiffs to move to targets in other areas. Otherwise the extortion will continue.

Scott Barnard

ER Facebook comment

Tribal herdsmanship

Dear ER:

I think the problem is people putting “their team” or party ahead of rational thought.

It’s impossible for me to believe people could look logically at what is happening in Sacramento and support it. The only way it can happen is voters not looking at the details of what is actually going on and instead voting for their team. The chair of the judiciary committee is obviously bought and paid for by the trial attorneys. It’s an embarrassment. We need to start holding these people accountable.

Christopher Kyle Brown

ER Facebook comment

Forwarned

Dear ER:

This is horrible and has been happening for years. I am a commercial insurance broker who works with many South Bay restaurants and small businesses, and nearly all have faced ADA “drive-by” lawsuits seeking quick settlements over minor technical violations (“Predatory ADA lawsuits attack Hermosa businesses,” ERFacebook, February, 2026). And it’s one or two people getting rich off this. It’s one of the first things I mention to clients, that these opportunistic claims will come, and can target anything from website compliance to something as small as a bathroom mirror mounted an inch too high. Insurance policies typically do not cover these technical ADA claims because even the carriers know how common they are and the standards can be gray.

The issue would go away if California follows other states and allows these business owners time to fix minor violations. Instead, the business owners feel they must settle for $4000, or $10,000, or even $20,000. Absolutely horrible. Any meaningful change will require pressure on state lawmakers to add the fix-it period and close the loopholes that allow this abuse to continue.

Ryan McDonald

ER Facebook comment

Shakespearean tragedy

Dear ER:

What can one expect when electing a lawyer? I mean the political cabal is largely in the legal profession that profits regardless of winning or losing, rather it’s all about billable hours (“Predatory ADA lawsuits attack Hermosa businesses,” ERFacebook, February, 2026). Shakespeare said it best.

Robert Benz

ER Facebook comment