Jeff Denham: “My amendment would ensure that the Department of Justice takes appropriate actions to provide ADA compliance materials…”

“My amendment would ensure that the Department of Justice takes appropriate actions to provide ADA compliance materials for businessowners whose primary language is not English. As a Representative from California's Central Valley, my district is far too familiar with the kinds of abusive lawsuits H.R. 620 aims to curb. For years, small businesses--some that make less than $30,000 a year--have been targeted by ``drive-by'' lawsuits from people who are driving by--many of whom are from outside of our State and, certainly, outside of our community. They have been slapped with demands for thousands, even tens of thousands, of dollars for minor infractions, like faded parking signs or outdated signage or stripes in the parking lot. More often than not, the lawyer or plaintiff didn't even enter the business in the first place. In too many cases, these lawsuits did not lead to compliance. They led to shakedowns and shutdowns. Throughout California and, certainly, throughout California's Central Valley, we have seen a number of minority businesses and businesses as a whole, small businesses, that have been shut down by many of these shakedown lawsuits where the attorney will call back and say: I understand that you can't pay us today, but we will put you on a monthly plan. That doesn't solve any problems for those with disabilities. It certainly doesn't solve any problems for the businesses.…”