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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>While businesses should follow the ADA and be encouraged to do so, the click-by law suits are not a good way to make it happen. I also agree with you Camille. Thanks for the post.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherri<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>PLipovsky via NFBF-L<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, April 4, 2023 10:29 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> PLipovsky <plipovsky@cfl.rr.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFBF-L] FW: [blindLaw] ADA Case Set To Go Before Supreme Court - Disability Scoop - March 29, 2023<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Well stated Camille, and I Totally agree.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Camille Tate via NFBF-L<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, April 4, 2023 10:22 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'Alicia Betancourt' <licib85@gmail.com>; 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Camille Tate <ctate2076@att.net><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFBF-L] FW: [blindLaw] ADA Case Set To Go Before Supreme Court - Disability Scoop - March 29, 2023<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The problem with this case is that it perpetuates the “click by” lawsuits that cause businesses and government to try to water down the ADA. When groups of disabled people search the web and use programs like Google Earth to find places that are not accessible, then file a lawsuit for inaccessibility, they are not actually trying to make the place or website accessible. Their goal is to receive a settlement. This is damaging to those who are trying to make things accessible, because businesses are just paying out money to make the lawsuit go away, instead of making their place accessible. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There have been several bills introduced into Congress over the years that would take away compensatory damages to plaintiffs or remove the legal incentives for businesses to make their business accessible because of litigation from people who either have never visited the location or have no intention of using a website that is not accessible. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We must be cautious about such legal practices because in the long run, it may have a detrimental effect on the ADA and disability rights. Of course all businesses should be accessible, but we have to actually make them accessible, not just try to get “nuisance money”. This is food for thought! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Camille Tate <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2<sup>nd</sup> Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, Melbourne Space Coast Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: 321 372 4899 <o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Alicia Betancourt <<a href="mailto:licib85@gmail.com">licib85@gmail.com</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 3, 2023 8:45 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">nfbf-l@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Camille Tate <<a href="mailto:ctate2076@att.net">ctate2076@att.net</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFBF-L] FW: [blindLaw] ADA Case Set To Go Before Supreme Court - Disability Scoop - March 29, 2023<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I hope this passes because having a website that is inaccessible is inexcusable, whether or not someone is planning to attend. The hotel is unacceptable in this day and age! She could’ve been perusing for a place to stay like mini sighted folks do when they’re looking on the web. Thanks for sharing.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id=ms-outlook-mobile-signature><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Get <a href="https://aka.ms/o0ukef">Outlook for iOS</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div id=mail-editor-reference-message-container><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="98%" align=center></div><div id=divRplyFwdMsg><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> NFBF-L <<a href="mailto:nfbf-l-bounces@nfbnet.org">nfbf-l-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> on behalf of Camille Tate via NFBF-L <<a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">nfbf-l@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 3, 2023 4:07 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <<a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">nfbf-l@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Camille Tate <<a href="mailto:ctate2076@att.net">ctate2076@att.net</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBF-L] FW: [blindLaw] ADA Case Set To Go Before Supreme Court - Disability Scoop - March 29, 2023 <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sharing for those members who may be interested. This decision could have<br>long-reaching effects on ADA litigation.<br> Sincerely, <br>Camille Tate <br>2nd Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida <br>President, Melbourne Space Coast Chapter, National Federation of the Blind<br>of Florida <br>Phone: 321 372 4899 <br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: BlindLaw <<a href="mailto:blindlaw-bounces@nfbnet.org">blindlaw-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> On Behalf Of Nightingale, Noel<br>via BlindLaw<br>Sent: Monday, April 3, 2023 2:34 PM<br>To: <a href="mailto:blindlaw@nfbnet.org">blindlaw@nfbnet.org</a><br>Cc: Nightingale, Noel <<a href="mailto:Noel.Nightingale@ed.gov">Noel.Nightingale@ed.gov</a>><br>Subject: [blindLaw] ADA Case Set To Go Before Supreme Court - Disability<br>Scoop - March 29, 2023<br><br><br><a href="https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2023/03/29/ada-case-set-to-go-before-supreme">https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2023/03/29/ada-case-set-to-go-before-supreme</a><br>-court/30312/<br>ADA Case Set To Go Before Supreme Court<br>By Shaun Heasley<br>Disability Scoop<br>March 29, 2023<br><br>The U.S. Supreme Court will weigh in on the rights of people with<br>disabilities to sue under the Americans with Disabilities Act.<br>The high court said this week that it would take up a case known as Acheson<br>Hotels, LLC v. Laufer. At issue is whether individuals with disabilities<br>have standing to sue a business under the ADA if they have no intention of<br>actually visiting the establishment.<br>The case originated when Deborah Laufer, a Florida resident who has a vision<br>impairment and uses a cane or wheelchair, sued Acheson Hotels alleging that<br>the website of the Coast Village Inn and Cottages in Wells, Maine did not<br>offer adequate information about accommodations for people with disabilities<br>as required under the ADA.<br>A district court dismissed Laufer's suit, finding that she was not injured<br>since she never planned to visit the hotel, but the decision was overturned<br>by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit which found that<br>"Laufer's feelings of frustration, humiliation and second-class citizenry"<br>were "'downstream consequences' and 'adverse effects' of the informational<br>injury she experienced."<br>Acheson Hotels then appealed to the Supreme Court. In its petition to the<br>high court, the company noted that Laufer has filed over 600 federal<br>lawsuits since 2018 against hotel owners and operators making similar<br>allegations.<br>Lower courts have differed on whether self-appointed ADA "testers" like<br>Laufer have standing to sue, according to the petition. And, lawyers for<br>Acheson Hotels argued that the case "has immense practical importance" given<br>that Laufer is one of many such "testers" who have filed thousands of ADA<br>lawsuits.<br>"A cottage industry has arisen in which uninjured plaintiffs lob ADA<br>lawsuits of questionable merit, while using the threat of attorney's fees to<br>extract settlement payments. These lawsuits have burdened small businesses,<br>clogged the judicial system and undermined the executive branch's exclusive<br>authority to enforce federal law," the petition states.<br>In response, Laufer's attorney agreed in court papers that the Supreme Court<br>should review the matter given the differing opinions from lower courts.<br>But, Laufer argued that she and other "testers" serve an important public<br>good in the face of countless businesses who remain out of compliance with<br>the ADA more than 30 years after it took effect.<br>"Without civil rights advocates such as this plaintiff, there would be no<br>enforcement of the ADA," the brief said.<br><br><br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>BlindLaw mailing list<br><a href="mailto:BlindLaw@nfbnet.org">BlindLaw@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for<br>BlindLaw:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/ctate2076%40att.net">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/ctate2076%40att.net</a><br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>NFBF-L mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NFBF-L@nfbnet.org">NFBF-L@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBF-L:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/licib85%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/licib85%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>