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

[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