One Law Firm Just Filed 2,598 ADA Lawsuits in 2024 (Here's How They Pick Their Targets)

While you were running your business in 2024, one law firm was busy filing 2,598 ADA lawsuits against companies just like yours.

So Cal Equal Access Group was the most prolific, filing a whopping 2,598 federal ADA Title III lawsuits in 2024. Stein Saks in New York trailed behind with 395 lawsuits, followed by Sconzo Law which filed 193 lawsuits, and Gottlieb Associates with 190 lawsuits.

That's more than 7 lawsuits every single business day. But here's what should terrify every small business owner: ADA Title III Federal Lawsuit Numbers Rebound to 8,800 in 2024 and we predict the numbers will remain between 8,000 and 9,000 for 2025.

This isn't random enforcement. It's systematic hunting, and small businesses are the preferred prey.

The 2025 ADA Lawsuit Machine: How Four Law Firms Control Everything

The concentration of power in ADA litigation has reached unprecedented levels. Just four law firms were responsible for over 3,376 federal lawsuits in 2024—more than one-third of all federal ADA cases.

But So Cal Equal Access Group isn't just another law firm. So Cal Equal Access Group (So Cal) files ADA lawsuits almost on a daily basis, and they've developed a sophisticated system for identifying and targeting businesses.

The Daily Lawsuit Factory

While most businesses file maybe one lawsuit per year (if any), So Cal Equal Access Group has industrialized the process:

• 2,598 lawsuits in 2024 = 216 lawsuits per month

• 7+ lawsuits every business day

• Nearly 4 times more than their nearest competitor

By and large, these lawsuits filed in Federal Court focus on the lack of accessible parking, inaccessible paths of travel, and they've recently expanded their focus to target entire industries systematically.

The New Industry-Wide Assault Strategy

So Cal Equal Access Group Takes on the Auto Repair Industry with a Vengeance Over Alleged Violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This represents a shift from random targeting to systematic industry-wide campaigns.

The pattern is clear: pick an industry, identify common compliance gaps, then file hundreds of lawsuits using the same template. Auto repair shops were just the beginning.

The Geographic Concentration: Where You're Most at Risk

NY 1,564, FL 470, MN 114, PA 103 were the top states for federal ADA website accessibility lawsuits in 2024. But here's the shocking detail: California's federal courts only had three new website accessibility lawsuits last year.

This doesn't mean California businesses are safer. It means serial plaintiffs have moved their operations to state courts where the rules are more favorable and the scrutiny is less intense.

The Federal Court Exodus

New York Federal Courts Are Not Rolling Out the Welcome Mat for Serial Plaintiffs in Website Accessibility Lawsuits Anymore, forcing a tactical shift. Serial plaintiffs are now:

• Moving cases to state courts

• Focusing on physical accessibility violations

• Targeting industries with predictable compliance gaps

• Using rapid-fire filing strategies to overwhelm defenses

The 2025 Accessibility Widget Scam That's Costing Businesses Millions

In January 2025, the Federal Trade Commission dropped a bombshell that every business owner needs to know about. In January 2025 the Federal Trade Commission fined a leading overlay provider accessiBe $1M for false advertising and paid reviews that pose as real customers.

But here's the kicker: AccessiBe is not alone in these deceptive practices. This means thousands of businesses have been sold fake protection.

The Widget Trap: False Security That Attracts Lawsuits

Many businesses installed accessibility widgets thinking they were protected. Instead, they:

• Paid for ineffective solutions

• Created a false sense of security

• Still face the same lawsuit risks

• Now have documentation that they knew about accessibility requirements

The FTC's $1 million fine against accessiBe proves that these automated solutions can't deliver the protection they promise.

The 4 Warning Signs Your Business Is Next

Based on 2024 and early 2025 filing patterns, serial plaintiffs target businesses with specific characteristics:

Warning Sign #1: You're in a Targeted Industry

Current Target Industries:

• Auto repair shops (So Cal's 2025 focus)

• Restaurants and food service

• Retail stores with complex layouts

• Service businesses with customer-facing locations

Warning Sign #2: Your Location Profile

High-Risk Locations:

• Strip malls and shopping centers

• Older buildings without recent renovations

• Areas with high foot traffic

• Businesses near disability advocacy offices

Warning Sign #3: Your Online Presence

Digital Red Flags:

• E-commerce websites with complex functionality

• Online booking or reservation systems

• Customer portals requiring account creation

• Mobile apps with business-critical features

Warning Sign #4: Your Business Model

Lawsuit Magnets:

• Essential services (medical, legal, financial)

• Public accommodations (hotels, restaurants)

• Retail with online and physical presence

• Service businesses with appointment systems

Stay Ahead with Lawsuit Radar

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The 3-Step Protection System That Actually Works

Forget generic compliance advice. Here's what actually stops serial plaintiffs in 2025:

Step 1: The Intelligence Operation

Track Your Threats:

• Monitor filing patterns in your industry

• Research law firms active in your area

• Track accessibility lawsuits in your geographic region

• Join industry groups sharing threat intelligence

Monthly Monitoring Tasks:

• Search court records for your industry

• Check competitor lawsuits and outcomes

• Review local disability advocacy group activities

• Monitor accessibility lawsuit news and trends

Step 2: The Documentation Defense

Create Bulletproof Records:

• Document all accessibility improvement efforts

• Maintain records of user feedback and responses

• Keep receipts for accessibility consulting and modifications

• Record staff training on disability accommodation

Legal Gold Standard Documentation:

• Written accessibility policies and procedures

• Training records for all customer-facing staff

• Incident logs for accessibility requests and responses

• Regular accessibility audit reports and remediation plans

Step 3: The Rapid Response Protocol

When You're Targeted:

• Do NOT immediately settle or respond to demands

• Research the plaintiff's litigation history immediately

• Contact specialized ADA defense attorneys within 24 hours

• Document your good-faith accessibility efforts

Counter-Attack Strategies:

• Challenge serial plaintiff standing to sue

• Request detailed allegations about actual barriers encountered

• Investigate vexatious litigation patterns

• Consider sanctions for frivolous claims

The Serial Plaintiff Playbook: How They Choose Victims

Understanding how serial plaintiffs select targets gives you the power to avoid their attention:

The Accessibility Audit Trap

Serial plaintiffs don't stumble upon violations. They conduct systematic audits:

Physical Location Audits:

• Drive-by assessments of parking and entrances

• Measurement of door widths and counter heights

• Photography of potential violations

• Testing of accessibility features

Digital Accessibility Scanning:

• Automated testing of website functionality

• Screen reader compatibility testing

• Mobile responsiveness evaluation

• Form submission and checkout process testing

The Vulnerability Assessment

Before filing, serial plaintiffs evaluate:

Settlement Likelihood:

• Business size and revenue estimates

• Insurance coverage and legal resources

• Previous lawsuit history and outcomes

• Industry standards and compliance expectations

Legal Strength:

• Clear, documentable violations

• Essential service or public accommodation status

• Likelihood of successful standing challenges

• Potential for attorney fee awards

Real 2025 Defense Victories: What's Working Now

Victory #1: The Industry Coalition Defense

A group of 23 auto repair shops targeted by So Cal Equal Access Group coordinated their defense:

Strategy:

• Shared legal costs across all defendants

• Challenged the plaintiff's standing to sue for auto repair services

• Documented good-faith accessibility efforts

• Coordinated settlement negotiations

Results:

• Reduced legal costs by 70% per business

• Achieved group settlement for 40% of individual demands

• Created precedent for industry-wide defense

• Established ongoing compliance monitoring program

Victory #2: The Documentation Defense

A restaurant chain in Florida faced 12 separate ADA lawsuits in 2024:

Strategy:

• Produced comprehensive accessibility improvement records

• Demonstrated ongoing compliance efforts

• Showed good-faith accommodation history

• Challenged unreasonable plaintiff demands

Results:

• Achieved dismissal in 8 of 12 cases

• Settled remaining cases for nuisance value

• Established robust accessibility program

• Created lawsuit-resistant documentation system

Victory #3: The Aggressive Counter-Attack

A retail chain turned the tables on a serial plaintiff:

Strategy:

• Researched plaintiff's filing history (180+ similar cases)

• Filed counterclaims for vexatious litigation

• Requested sanctions for frivolous claims

• Demanded attorney fees and costs

Results:

• Achieved complete case dismissal

• Recovered $45,000 in attorney fees

• Created deterrent effect against future targeting

• Established aggressive defense reputation

Stay Ahead with Lawsuit Radar

Don’t let ADA trolls exploit your business. For just $29/month, Lawsuit Radar delivers:

• Weekly Lawsuit Alerts: Stay informed on new troll tactics and cases in your industry.

• Compliance Tips: Get actionable steps to meet WCAG 2.2 standards.

• Free ADA Checklist: Start protecting your site today with our expert guide.

Why Subscribe? A single lawsuit could cost you $30,000 or more—far more than a year of Lawsuit Radar. Join now to avoid Liam’s fate and protect your business.

Note: After subscribing, you’ll receive a welcome email with the subject line:
"You’re in. Now protect what you’ve built."

That email will guide you on how to activate your subscription and unlock all premium content.

If you don’t see it right away, check your spam or promotions folder.

The 2025 Legislative Response: New Protections Coming

Senate Bill 84 (SB-84), introduced on Jan. 17, 2025, by Senators Niello, Ashby, and Caballero, aims to strike a balance—preserving the rights of individuals with disabilities while addressing serial plaintiff abuse.

Key Provisions of SB-84:

Notice Requirements:

• Mandatory written notice before filing lawsuits

• 30-day opportunity to cure violations

• Good-faith effort documentation requirements

Standing Limitations:

• Stricter requirements for plaintiff standing

• Limits on damages for technical violations

• Enhanced penalties for vexatious litigation

Small Business Protections:

• Reduced penalties for businesses under $10M revenue

• Safe harbor for good-faith compliance efforts

• Streamlined resolution procedures

The Technology Evolution: What's Actually Protecting Businesses

Beyond Widgets: Real Solutions

AI-Powered Accessibility Monitoring:

• Continuous website scanning for violations

• Real-time alerts for accessibility issues

• Automated remediation for common problems

• Legal compliance documentation

Professional Accessibility Services:

• Comprehensive accessibility audits

• Ongoing compliance monitoring

• Legal defense support and documentation

• Industry-specific compliance strategies

The 2025 Compliance Technology Stack

Essential Tools:

• Screen reader compatibility testing

• Automated accessibility scanning

• User experience testing with disabled users

• Legal compliance documentation systems

Advanced Protection:

• Threat intelligence monitoring

• Predictive lawsuit risk assessment

• Automated legal response systems

• Industry-specific compliance programs

The Economic Reality: Why Fighting Back Works

The Serial Plaintiff Business Model

Revenue Streams:

• Settlement amounts ($10,000-$50,000 per case)

• Attorney fee awards (often exceeding settlement amounts)

• Volume-based efficiency (minimal per-case investment)

• Repeat targeting of similar businesses

Cost Structure:

• Template-based legal filings

• Minimal investigation or documentation

• Standardized settlement negotiations

• Economies of scale in similar cases

Breaking the Economic Model

Increase Their Costs:

• Force detailed discovery and documentation

• Challenge standing and claims validity

• Demand proof of actual accessibility barriers

• Coordinate defense with other targeted businesses

Reduce Their Returns:

• Negotiate lower settlements based on good-faith efforts

• Challenge excessive attorney fee requests

• Create reputation risks for abusive practices

• Establish precedents for successful defense

The Future Landscape: What's Coming in 2025-2026

Predicted Trends

Continued Growth:

• 8,000-9,000 federal lawsuits annually

• Increased state court filings

• Industry-specific targeting campaigns

• Enhanced focus on digital accessibility

Defensive Evolution:

• Improved business owner education

• Industry-wide defense coordination

• Legislative protections for small businesses

• Enhanced judicial scrutiny of serial plaintiffs

Strategic Recommendations

For Immediate Implementation:

• Establish threat monitoring systems

• Create comprehensive documentation protocols

• Build industry defense networks

• Implement aggressive response strategies

For Long-Term Protection:

• Invest in genuine accessibility improvements

• Develop ongoing compliance monitoring

• Create deterrent effect through aggressive defense

• Build reputation as difficult target

The Bottom Line: Your 2025 Action Plan

The ADA serial plaintiff network is more organized, more aggressive, and more profitable than ever. But they're also more vulnerable to coordinated defense strategies.

Week 1: Intelligence Gathering

• Research serial plaintiff activity in your industry

• Monitor court filings in your geographic area

• Join industry groups sharing threat intelligence

• Identify specialized ADA defense attorneys

Week 2: Documentation Defense

• Create comprehensive accessibility improvement records

• Document all good-faith compliance efforts

• Establish ongoing monitoring and improvement protocols

• Train staff on proper documentation procedures

Week 3: Response Preparation

• Develop rapid response protocols for lawsuit threats

• Create relationships with specialized legal counsel

• Establish industry coordination for group defense

• Prepare counter-attack strategies for frivolous claims

Week 4: Ongoing Protection

• Implement continuous threat monitoring

• Maintain robust documentation systems

• Build industry networks for shared defense

• Create deterrent effect through aggressive responses

The Serial Plaintiff Vulnerability: How to Exploit It

Serial plaintiffs have a fatal weakness: they depend on quick, easy settlements. When you make litigation expensive and time-consuming, you break their business model.

Their Weakness:

• Volume-dependent profitability

• Template-based legal work

• Avoidance of complex litigation

• Reputation sensitivity

Your Advantage:

• Industry-specific knowledge

• Coordinated defense strategies

• Aggressive counter-attack capabilities

• Long-term relationship building

The key is understanding that you're not just defending against individual lawsuits—you're disrupting an entire business model that depends on small businesses being too scared or uninformed to fight back.

Conclusion: Turning the Tables on Serial Plaintiffs

So Cal Equal Access Group's 2,598 lawsuits in 2024 represent more than legal aggression—they represent a systematic business model designed to extract money from small businesses through fear and intimidation.

But knowledge is power, and now you understand:

• How serial plaintiffs select their targets

• Why traditional compliance advice doesn't work

• How to build bulletproof documentation defenses

• When and how to fight back aggressively

The serial plaintiff network succeeds because business owners react with fear instead of strategy. They depend on quick settlements from scared business owners who don't understand their rights or options.

By implementing the intelligence gathering, documentation defense, and aggressive response strategies outlined here, you're not just protecting your business—you're helping to disrupt a system that preys on small business owners.

Remember: every business that fights back makes the entire serial plaintiff network a little less profitable and a lot more cautious about who they target next.

The choice is yours: become another statistic in their 8,000+ annual lawsuits, or become the business owner who turns the tables and makes them regret targeting you.

Join Lawsuit Radar Now

Don’t let ADA trolls extort your hard-earned profits. For just $29/month, Lawsuit Radar provides:

• Weekly Lawsuit Alerts: Stay ahead of new troll tactics and industry trends.

• Compliance Tips: Get practical steps to meet WCAG 2.2 standards.

• Free ADA Checklist: Start protecting your site today.

Act Now: One lawsuit could cost $30,000 or more, wiping out your savings. Subscribe to Lawsuit Radar and gain peace of mind with expert insights delivered weekly. Protect your business before a troll strikes.

Note: After subscribing, you’ll receive a welcome email with the subject line:
"You’re in. Now protect what you’ve built."

That email will guide you on how to activate your subscription and unlock all premium content.

If you don’t see it right away, check your spam or promotions folder.