Assemblyman Dave Jones, Judiciary Chair, Assemblymember.jones@assembly.ca.gov,
Fax: (916) 319-2109 Ph: (916) 319-2009
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, Assemblymember.nunez@assembly.ca.gov,
Fax: (Ph: (916) 319-2046 Ph: (916) 319-2046
Senator Don Perata, Senator.Perata@sen.ca.gov,
Fax: (510) 286-3885 Ph: (510) 286-1333.
Senator Ellen Corbett, Chair of Judiciary, Senator.corbett@sen.ca.gov
Fax: (510) 577-2308 Ph: (510) 577-2310
RE: Your commitment to meaningful ADA reform
This is an urgent request to both Democratic and Republican legislators in California. You have been repeatedly informed of the need to do something about the rampant abuse of California’s disabled access laws; to date, no meaningful action has been taken.
There have now been 5 opportunities to address this problem since 2001; in each case, Democrats and Republicans could not agree on a solution. We hire our legislators to resolve crises— not to make them worse!
The latest attempt in this series is the much-heralded SB 747— but this provides little more than a written advisory to be included with any lawsuit or demand letter advising the recipient to consult an attorney— do you really think that will reduce lawsuits or unfairness? Would SB 747 have helped with any of the following?
· One San Diego couple was videotaped walking without assistance, after they had filed 182 ADA/access lawsuits claiming they “required motorized wheelchairs for mobility!”
· One local attorney filed (and settled) over 100 lawsuits in the name of 3 clients, who knew nothing about the filings or the locations sued!
· One disabled attorney sued over 100 businesses claiming a lack of door signage discriminated against him— until pictures of his own office doors without the signs were filed in court!
· The same attorney sued at least 100 single-story businesses falsely claiming they had elevators with disabled access problems!
By not taking action to curb this [mis]conduct, you help it thrive. Please acknowledge that California’s system of “private enforcement” is the most costly and inefficient means of improving disabled access imaginable- if it were a machine, it would be discarded, if it were a state agency, it would be scrapped—yet taxpayers continue to foot the bill through court costs, private settlements and professional plaintiffs. Other states and countries have accomplished much more, at far less cost, without the use of lawsuits.
With SB 747 you have the opportunity to propose a fair, cost-effective and easily understandable plan for improving disabled access today!
Name_________________________________________
Signature_______________________________________
Address_______________________________________
City_____________________ ST______ ZIP________
