We continue to report on the plethora of serial plaintiffs who have collectively filed thousands of accessibility lawsuits in federal courts throughout the country. These lawsuits generally allege that a “place of public accommodation,” whether it be a building or a website, is inaccessible to disabled individuals, thus denying them full and equal access to the facility, goods, or services in violation of Title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
There has been a recent surge in lawsuits filed by several of these plaintiffs, including Alfred Trippett, Patrick Austin, Kai Hunte, and Jeffery Williams, who, according to court records, have collectively filed more than 145 accessibility lawsuits, many of which were filed in recent months.
- Trippett filed 27 lawsuits in 2025 (and 57 total lawsuits).
- Austin filed 28 lawsuits in 2025 (and 44 total lawsuits).
- Hunte has filed 13 lawsuits since July 13, 2025.
- Williams has filed 11 lawsuits since July 7, 2025 (and 36 total lawsuits).
These plaintiffs are all represented by the same law firm, which has filed approximately 600 similar lawsuits in federal district courts in New York State.
Both state and federal lawmakers have taken steps in recent years to curb website accessibility lawsuits; however, to date, no legislation has been passed. In the absence of legislation or regulations promulgated by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), we recommend that businesses operating a website, mobile application, or both take steps to ensure these online systems are accessible to users with disabilities and otherwise comply with federal, state, and local disability laws in accordance with DOJ guidance issued in March 2022.
To avoid traditional accessibility lawsuits regarding a place of public accommodation, businesses such as hotels, restaurants, theaters, and retail stores should work with an ADA consultant, architect, or experienced contractor to identify and eliminate any existing architectural barriers that prevent or restrict access for disabled individuals.
In the unfortunate event your business is served with an accessibility lawsuit, don’t hesitate to contact the attorneys at Barclay Damon. We’ll continue to monitor the development of these cases.
If you have any questions regarding the content of this alert, please contact Rob Thorpe, partner, at rthorpe@barclaydamon.com, Dan Blake, of counsel, at dblake@barclaydamon.com, or another member of the firm’s Labor & Employment or Commercial Litigation & Complex Trials Practice Areas or Hotels, Hospitality & Food Service Team.