--- title: New Types of ADA Accessibility Lawsuits to Watch in 2020 description: Hundreds of new ADA-based lawsuits have been filed against companies in recent months. The expanding definition of ADA lawsuits is a 2020 trend to watch. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/GettyImages-912501632.jpg --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/new-types-of-ada-accessibility-lawsuits-to-watch-in-2020#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/new-types-of-ada-accessibility-lawsuits-to-watch-in-2020#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/new-types-of-ada-accessibility-lawsuits-to-watch-in-2020#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? [Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) - Who We Serve ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-e-commerce-consumer-goods) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-europe) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) # New Types of ADA Accessibility Lawsuits to Watch in 2020 **By** [Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jason-taylor) on Nov 26, 2019 **Topics:** [ADA Lawsuits](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) 0 Comments - - - ![GettyImages-912501632](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/GettyImages-912501632.jpg) Over the past few months, hundreds of new types of ADA-based lawsuits were filed against retailers, restaurants and hotels in the name of inclusion. While these are not the broader Web and App Accessibility suits that we typically monitor, the rise in the expanding definition of ADA lawsuits is a trend to watch in 2020.  ## Does That Gift Card come in Braille?  More than 30 Retailers and Restaurant between Oct. 24-27, 2019, received putative nationwide class action cases filed in two U.S. District Courts alleging that issuing companies did not offer their gift cards in Braille. The complaints assert that failure to do so violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). [Gregory B Reilly](https://www.bsk.com/people/gregory-b-reilly) of [Bond Schoeneck and King, PLLC](https://www.bsk.com/) has written up a good summary in his blog, "The New Class Action Risk: Gift Cards Without Braille. " We've quoted it below and you can read in full [here.](https://www.bsk.com/new-york-labor-and-employment-law-report/the-new-class-action-risk-gift-cards-without-braille) > When the ADA was first signed into law in 1990, the lawsuits claiming ADA violations largely focused on physical access barriers to businesses, such as not providing a wheelchair ramp or an elevator.  A few years ago, the concept of “access barriers” expanded to include websites.  For instance, thousands of lawsuits were filed by blind persons alleging that websites were not accessible to them. > > It appears we are at the beginning of a new wave with gift card lawsuits.  Over the past two weeks, several lawsuits have been filed against retailers, restaurants, and other merchants for failing to provide gift cards that are accessible to the visually impaired.  At least eleven major chain stores in the Eastern District of New York and at least another eight in the Southern District of New York have been sued for not providing braille gift cards.  Like the web accessibility lawsuits, these new lawsuits are filed against businesses by a handful of “serial plaintiffs” usually represented by the same small group of law firms. ## Does Your Hotel Reservation System tell which Rooms are Accessible?  The other variation of ADA Website lawsuit emerging in 2019 to watch in 2020 is for hotel and lodging companies on allegedly missing accommodation information in the listing on websites when people with disabilities book online.  These lawsuits are based on the Website, but the complaint is around the information provided, not the actual accessibility of the Website. UsableNet does not report on this type of lawsuit in our Web and App Lawsuit Report.  In Florida in 2019, one plaintiff and and her attorney reached settlements with more than 20 hotels for this kind of lawsuit, as reported in the Miami Herald. We've quoted that article by David Goodhue [here](https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article224904660.html) and included a short excerpt below. > The suits state that the hotels violated the Americans With Disabilities Act because their websites’ reservations systems “fail to provide information about the accessible features of the hotel and its rooms to persons with disabilities.” ## What can companies do in 2020 to Avoid ADA Lawsuits? The recent private lawsuits work to expand the definition of what is covered by the ADA, to promote inclusion at all levels. But how do you find and fill in these gaps? A Harvard Business Review's article, "4 Ways to Improve Your Company’s Disability-Inclusion Practices" recommends starting with your greatest resource, your people. This can bring significant financial benefits as quoted below, [read the article in full here.](https://hbr.org/2019/06/4-ways-to-improve-your-companys-disability-inclusion-practices) > Moreover, recent economic modeling (part of an [award-winning](https://www.aapd.com/leadership-awards/) research study conducted by Accenture, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and Disability:IN) found a strong correlation between financial performance and well-developed disability-inclusion practices. According to the article, when people with disabilities enter the workforce it benefits the economy, people with disabilities, and employers. In 2020, consider making inclusion a part of your company culture. An overall commitment to building accessibility into all procurement training and release requirements will benefit all aspects of your business. Inclusion allows you to not only avoid lawsuits but will create greater loyalty among existing customers and help you to win new ones. Ready to get started with digital inclusion? Our Accessibility experts are here to help.  [![Contact an Accessibility Expert](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/4d71cab8-1bff-46ed-96d1-b6bd550b154f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/4d71cab8-1bff-46ed-96d1-b6bd550b154f) ![Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Reuploads%20-%20SEO/Jason%20Taylor.png) ### [Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jason-taylor) Jason C. Taylor is the Chief Innovation Strategist and Advisor to the UsableNet CEO with over 20 years of experience in usability and accessibility. Jason is a global technology thought leader for multichannel customer engagement, actively advising leading companies on how to extend their brands across multiple channels for all users. He has been an active member of the accessibility and usability communities since 2001, which started with leading partnerships between UsableNet, Macromedia (now Adobe), and The Nielsen Norman Group. - - - - ### Related posts ![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 ![The Economics of ADA Website Claims — A Defense Attorney's Perspective](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/1200%20x%20630%20-%20%20The%20Economics%20of%20ADA%20Website%20Claims%20-%20A%20Defense%20Attorneys%20Perspective.png) [The Economics of ADA Website Claims — A Defense Attorney's Perspective](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-economics-of-ada-website-claims-a-defense-attorneys-perspective) May 5, 2026 ![When One ADA Claim Becomes Three](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/1200%20x%20630%20-%20When%20One%20ADA%20Claim%20Becomes%20Three.png) [When One ADA Claim Becomes Three](https://blog.usablenet.com/when-one-ada-claim-becomes-three) Apr 28, 2026 ![Why Settling One ADA Claim Doesn't Prevent the Next](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Why%20Settling%20One%20ADA%20Claim%20Doesn%E2%80%99t%20Prevent%20the%20Next%20-%202.png) [Why Settling One ADA Claim Doesn't Prevent the Next](https://blog.usablenet.com/why-settling-one-ada-claim-doesnt-prevent-the-next) Apr 21, 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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