Law firms including Baker & Hostetler, Seyfarth Shaw, and Shook, Hardy & Bacon have been dealing with a surge in disability suits related to website accessibility, a situation necessitated by a perceived regulatory vacuum. Critics have frequently urged the Department of Justice to enforce technical standards, facilitating website usage for visually impaired individuals who rely on screen reader software. However, the Department has only been able to offer guidelines, which have been labelled as vague and ineffective, as the number of lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) against website operators continues to rise.
Defense attorney Martin Krezalek stated, “Right now, these plaintiffs lawyers are running free. It’s very easy for them to create a factual issue about whether a website is or is not accessible.” Full article here.