Since enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, millions of employees have been protected from workplace discrimination based on disability. According to a recent report, more and more Americans are using the law to protect themselves and others.
A website devoted to Human Resources professionals states that ADA Title III lawsuits have risen 62 percent in the first 6 months of the year.
HRmorning.com says a law firm that monitors ADA lawsuits carefully reports that in the first half of 2015 there were 2,114 disability discrimination legal claims filed in courts. In the first half of 2016, there have been 3,435 similar ADA-related claims filed.
The increase over 2013 is even more pronounced. That year, there were 2,722 such suits filed; a figure already topped in 6 months this year.
Most of the lawsuits involve complaints about barriers hampering physical access to employer facilities, the report states. As many of our regular readers know, these barriers often exist at the entrances and exits of businesses and places of employment. Some barriers hamper or deny access to restrooms for customers or employees, or other vital areas of the facilities.
In addition to barrier-related lawsuits, there has also been an increase in claims against employers that have recruiting websites providing inadequate access to people with disabilities.
In many cases, those websites don’t make content accessible to prospective employees who have vision or hearing impairments.
A Milwaukee employment law attorney experienced in disability discrimination litigation can assess the details of your situation and help you protect your rights.
