Last summer, Katie Lane was sent notice that she was being sued because her business’s website was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The St. Joseph coffee shop owner learned she was among the growing number of small employers facing exploitative ADA-related lawsuits.
“The notice I got said I had caused damages to the lawyer’s client, and I had 14 days to contact them, or I was going to be sued,” Lane said. “I had to retain an attorney, and I’ve accrued bills from that. I may have to shut down my website.”
Stories like Lane’s underscore why the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is supporting legal reforms that protect businesses from abusive litigation. The Missouri Chamber is committed to ensuring Missouri businesses offer equal access to their products and services for all people, but an increasing number of lawsuits target minor technical issues instead of advancing meaningful accessibility improvements.
Lane and other business owners testified before the House Commerce Committee during a hearing on HB 1842, sponsored by Rep. Sherri Gallick (R-Belton), and HB 2150, sponsored by Rep. Travis Wilson (R-St.Charles). The legislation would help protect businesses by establishing a legal process to challenge these types of lawsuits. If a lawsuit is found to be abusive, the court could award attorney fees and costs back to the business.
“I was contacted by a friend who had gotten one of these notices, and that’s what led me to file this bill,” Gallick said. “This bill does not weaken accessibility standards or reduce civil rights protections.”
Gallick said that in 2024, Missouri was seventh in the country for the number of sue-and-settle lawsuits filed. The cost to businesses ranged from $5,000 to $40,000 each.
“There is software available to fix these issues, but it costs as much as $30,000, and most small businesses like mine can’t afford that,” said Beth Snyder, a business owner from Fulton who was also sued. “These suits limit commerce, and they limit the American dream of being able to have a small business.”
“In Missouri, these lawsuits have targeted museums, hotels, dispensaries, restaurants, garden centers and home builders,” Gallick said. “These lawsuits create unnecessary legal uncertainty for employers and can discourage growth and investment across the state. We need to ensure that businesses provide all people with equal opportunities to access their products or services.”
Along with Gallick’s bill, several other similar pieces of legislation are on the move. This week, the House General Laws Committee voted the following bills out of committee:
HB 1694 is now positioned for review by the House Committee on Administrative Rules before presentation on the House floor, where the full House will have the opportunity for debate.
In the Senate, SB 907 has been filed by Sen. Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair), along with SB 1471 by Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) and SB 1272 by Sen. Curtis Trent (R-Springfield).
The Missouri Chamber also provided testimony in favor of this legislation. For more information, contact Jared Hankinson, vice president of government affairs, at jhankinson@mochamber.com or (573) 634-3511.
