Conaway Addresses Frivolous Lawsuits Plaguing West Texas

This week, Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11) spoke on the House Floor to address a series of frivolous lawsuits in West Texas.

He said, “I rise today to bring attention to a wave of frivolous lawsuits flooding my district. These lawsuits use the Americans with Disabilities Act – a law that has done tremendous good in our nation – as legal cover to sue small ‘mom & pop’ businesses for often unnoticed and easily correctable ADA violations.

“Businesses that have passed inspection are unaware of any ADA violations until a lawsuit arrives in their mailbox. Instead of demanding the violation be fixed, these lawsuits try to make a quick buck by settling out of court. The businesses have little choice: pay the settlement or pay expensive, business-ending attorney fees to fight the charge.
 
“Often these attorneys – as is the case in my district – don’t live in the state. Some will use Google Earth to find violations and then file a lawsuit remotely.
 
“This is wrong. It takes advantage of the ADA, those with disabilities, and small businesses that thought they were in compliance.
 
“That is why I have cosponsored the ADA Education and Reform Act, which will fix this problem. I will work to get this bill passed so West Texans won’t be abused by predatory attorneys who care about money, not about helping those with disabilities.”