When I was head of digital for a hotel company, I got more than my share of ADA demand letters, basically legal shake-downs claiming our website wasn’t ADA compliant and asking for a quick payout to make it go away. Fortunately, we knew we were in compliance and had lawyers ready to push back.
Many hotels just cut a check to make nuisance cases go away, exactly what the attorneys in this cottage industry are banking on. But as Zarco Hotels proved, if you’re in the right and willing to fight, you can win… and even send the bill back to the sender.
Zarco didn’t just beat the claim; they were awarded over $142K in legal fees. The court called it what it was: a money grab.
The lesson? If your website’s in compliance, don’t panic. Document everything, get legal eyes on it, and think twice before writing that check. Not every demand letter deserves one.
Read More About the Case, Learn More About Website ADA Compliance
