--- title: "Notes from the Field: What Defense Counsel Focus on After an ADA Website Claim" description: Defense counsel focus on efficient resolution and reducing future ADA website claims through practical testing and strategic positioning. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WCAG%20%20Web%20Accessibility%20Training%20Why%2c%20What%20and%20Who%20BLOG.jpg --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/-what-defense-counsel-focus-on-after-an-ada-website-claim#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/-what-defense-counsel-focus-on-after-an-ada-website-claim#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/-what-defense-counsel-focus-on-after-an-ada-website-claim#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. 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[Take our Quiz](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz) - Resources ## Resources [E-books & Guides](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=E-books%20and%20Guides) [Case Studies](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Case%20Studies) [Reports](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Reports) [Webinars](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Webinars) [Tools](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Tools) [All Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Essential Resources [ADA accessibility lawsuit tracker](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-website-compliance-lawsuit-tracker?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Checklist: how to achieve and maintain digital accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-website-accessibility-checklist?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Which remediation approach is right for me?](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [A Primer on ADA and Digital Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/a-primer-on-ada-and-digital-accessibility?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) The EAA is in Effect — Is Your Website Compliant? 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Those conversations often surface practical insights about how claims are evolving and what legal teams see once a case is underway. This post is part of an ongoing series I’m calling [**“Notes from the Field.”**](https://blog.usablenet.com/what-defense-counsel-are-seeing-in-ada-website-litigation) The goal is simple: to share patterns emerging from real discussions with attorneys handling these cases today. Not theory, not speculation, but observations drawn from active matters and client conversations. In a recent conversation with defense counsel handling active ADA website matters, I asked a simple question: > ## *After a client receives a demand letter or lawsuit, what actually changes?* The answers were consistent across conversations and focused on execution. ## **Two Immediate Objectives** Defense counsel focus on two core objectives once a claim is filed: 1. Resolve the current matter efficiently and cost-effectively 2. Reduce the risk of copycat claims and repeat filings Those goals drive the strategy that follows. The first is about case resolution. The second is about reducing future exposure. ## **Testing as Triage and Defense** Defense counsel explained that their approach typically includes both automated testing and manual review. In 2026, lawyers are using tools like PowerMapper, Lighthouse, and WAVE alongside targeted manual testing. The purpose isn't just to evaluate specific allegations in the complaint. Counsel wants a clear view of overall exposure and a remediation plan they can defend Plaintiffs’ firms no longer rely on automated scans. As automated scores improve, complaints lean more on manual testing and documented user experiences. Those findings surface barriers that automated tools miss. One attorney described this as "the natural evolution of these cases." The bar keeps moving. ## **Resource Constraints Slow Remediation** A recurring theme: many clients lack the internal resources to address accessibility issues quickly or comprehensively. Common scenarios include: - The original development agency can't efficiently remediate - The site was built on a platform like Shopify, but the company has no in-house technical expertise - Large organizations have internal IT teams focused on revenue-generating initiatives with limited bandwidth for accessibility updates ##  What Counsel Prioritize When Advising Clients  - Practical, layered testing - Honest resource assessment - Cost-effective resolution strategies - Signaling credibility and seriousness - Reducing repeat exposure through positioning, not just remediation Even when leadership wants to fix issues, remediation stalls. Defense counsel are often managing not just legal strategy, but also the logistics of *who* can actually do the work and how quickly it can get done. ## **"Reducing the Temperature"** One phrase that stood out: the goal of "reducing the temperature" around these cases. Beyond technical remediation, defense counsel sometimes focus on handling matters in a way that signals seriousness and discourages future targeting without pushing the case into expensive litigation. This can include filing strategies or positioning that suggests the matter was contested rather than quietly resolved. The objective is to avoid becoming an easy repeat target. As one attorney put it: "We want to make it harder for them to come back." ## **Repeat Exposure Is the Reality** When discussing filing trends, repeat defendants came up immediately. Our tracking shows that a significant percentage of companies that were sued for digital accessibility violations had prior filings in recent years. Defense counsel weren't surprised by that data. Their focus stays grounded. They are not trying to eliminate risk entirely, especially without a clear regulatory standard. They focus on practical tools and tactics to stop cases early or limit escalation. ## **A Consistent Theme: Realism Over Perfection** What stood out most was how practical these conversations were. No one suggested that a website can be bulletproof. In fact, the lack of a clear regulatory standard was cited as one reason these cases persist. Instead, the focus is on: > These are incremental strategies. They reflect how cases move and how plaintiffs operate. ## **Final Thought** Digital accessibility litigation remains a space where law and technology intersect in very practical, sometimes messy ways. Conversations like this reinforce how defense counsel are navigating these case by case. [If you found this insightful, please check out my other post in "Notes from the Field," series.](https://blog.usablenet.com/what-defense-counsel-are-seeing-in-ada-website-litigation) I always appreciate comparing notes with firms handling these matters. If you're seeing different trends or tactics in your cases, I'd like to hear about them.  [Book a Meeting With Me](https://meetings.salesloft.com/usablenet/jakerosenthal)  ![Jake Rosenthal](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Jake%20Rosenthal.png) ### [Jake Rosenthal](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jake-rosenthal) Jake Rosenthal helps companies reduce their ADA website lawsuit risk. With over 8 years of experience in usability and accessibility, he partners with defense law firms on remediation strategy and works directly with brands to address digital accessibility gaps. By tracking plaintiff behavior, legal trends, and repeat defendant patterns, he helps organizations move from reactive fixes to sustainable compliance. - - - - ### Related posts ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ![The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/The%20Low-Cost%20Moves%20That%20Strengthen%20an%20ADA%20Website%20Defense.png) [The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-low-cost-moves-that-strengthen-an-ada-website-defense) Jun 16, 2026 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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Stay up-to-date on our insights, the latest tech news and digital trends. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jake Rosenthal", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jake-rosenthal" }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-04T18:44:04.356Z", "datePublished" : "2026-03-09T12:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "Notes from the Field: What Defense Counsel Focus on After an ADA Website Claim", "image" : [ "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WCAG%20%20Web%20Accessibility%20Training%20Why%2c%20What%20and%20Who%20BLOG.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/-what-defense-counsel-focus-on-after-an-ada-website-claim", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/UsableNet%20Logo_Black.png" }, "name" : "UsableNet Inc." } } ```