One man has filed 1,800 disability lawsuits against SoCal shops. Store owners are fed up

[Zorro]

• Court records show a handful of people mostly represented by the same law firm have sued thousands of local businesses under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Business owners say they are being squeezed for cash over what they claim are minor violations.
• Advocates argue the lawsuits are an effective way to get businesses to make their stores accessible to the disabled.

Anthony Bouyer has been on a suing spree around the San Fernando Valley.

On Sept. 24, the 55-year-old internet marketer confronted a counter at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot that was difficult to reach over in his wheelchair. He sued the business for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. In L.A. County, it was at least his 231st case of the year.

At the convenience store next door, he found a produce scale out of arm’s length. He sued them too.

Two shops over at another Mexican spot, he noticed a cracked parking lot and cumbersome door hardware. Owner Elia Barraza was served a day before her 53rd birthday.

“This person is just suing anyone,” said her still-fuming son, Steven Barraza. “It’s just for nitpicking things.”

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-27/los-angeles-restaurants-disability-lawsuits

[EdmondDantes_]

1. The ADA shouldn't require people to sue for enforcement

Build the standards into regulations that are monitored. We don't require suing to enforce elevator safety inspections.

[LeftInTX]

2. The ADA doesn't apply to every business. Sounds like they are suing small mom and pop places.

And some of the businesses are just paying the plaintiff to avoid dealing with courts. Also, the accommodations should be "reasonable". However, going to court to debate about what is reasonable is expensive.

The plaintiff, Bouyer goes all over LA looking for places to sue and he sued 232 places last year.

Nakkoud said patients in wheelchairs from the nearby dialysis center navigated his aisles just fine. But fighting the lawsuit, he figured, would only cost more. He said the store agreed to pay $14,000. It was lawsuit #232 of the year in L.A. County for Bouyer.

Bouyer brings in measuring tapes and the whole works. Yet obviously wheelchairs are able to navigate the aisles without difficulty. But if something is like an inch shorter than code, even if it is not preventing patrons from accessing the facility, it seems like this guy will sue.

And he's sued 1,800 businesses....

[Old Crank]

3. Standards are built into regulations and building codes.

Most new construction, close to 20 years now, has to build to the code.
The ADA passed only because enforcement was going to be by lawsuit.
Unfortunately a few people take advantage tage of the situation. There needs to be an arbitration panel and a reasonable period before a damages lawsuit.
On the other hand no small number of businesses just ignored complaints and refused to deal with legitimate issues.