New Law Points to Protection from ADA Lawsuits

(Save the date: RealShare Apartments comes to the Westin Bonaventure, Los Angeles, October 24.)

LOS ANGELES-A victory for California’s small business owners, particularly those leasing retail space, was realized with the passing of SB1186, a bill that Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law last month. The statute is intended to cut down on shakedown demands and litigation to business owners for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, while at the same time increase disability access, according to David C. Bolstad, an attorney with Allen Matkins here. Bolstad tells GlobeSt.com that the law prohibits predatory requests for payment of money in demand letters to small business owners and reduces the amount of statutory damages available to plaintiffs when the defendant corrects the violation, but it still leaves some pertinent matters up for interpretation.