Thank you for publishing Ashleigh Conaway’s column titled “Protect small businesses from bogus ADA lawsuits.” ADA abuse is a serious issue impacting North County businesses. As mayor of Escondido, I repeatedly heard from businesses impacted by ADA Abuse. Ashleigh’s story is unfortunately, not a one-time occurrence.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination. Sadly, there are bad actors that take advantage of the ADA regulations to file frivolous lawsuits against small businesses for minor violations, such as incorrect signage or the height of a bathroom mirror. These lawsuits often result in astronomical legal fees, damaging the reputation of the businesses, and ultimately reducing their ability to serve their communities.

At the city of Escondido, we have some limited grant funding available for businesses to help comply with ADA related issues. But it is not enough.

The California legislature must take action to address the problem of ADA abuse by enacting common-sense reforms, such as mandatory notice and a waiting period before a lawsuit can be filed. Such changes would give businesses the opportunity to fix any violations and avoid unnecessary legal action.

Dane White
Mayor of Escondido
March 20, 2023

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