Lorie Zapf, San Diego Regional Director, had a commentary published in the North County Times today. In it, she writes:

"In the past several years a small group of unscrupulous serial plaintiffs have wreaked havoc on small businesses across California, filing thousands of lawsuits for alleged ADA violations.

Their intent has been to extract a quick cash settlement to "go away," earning the reputation of filing so-called "shakedown" lawsuits. Since most small businesses can ill afford the exorbitant cost of fighting any lawsuit, regardless of merit, they opt to pay a settlement.

Business owners claim it has been very difficult for them to comply, given conflicting state and federal standards, voluminous and changing legal requirements over the years, a lack of Disabilities Act training for building inspectors and architects, and inconsistent interpretations of damage provisions.

For years, the business and disabled communities have been at an impasse on the best way to increase access while reducing what many business owners refer to as "legalized extortion." The two sides have finally come together with a comprehensive ADA reform measure in the form of Senate Bill 1608, which received unanimous support in both houses of the state Legislature and went into effect Jan. 1."