Only a Bona Fide Patron of A Business Can Bring an ADA Suit, Maryland Court Holds

Seyfarth Synopsis:  In a refreshing breath of fresh air, a federal judge holds that an intent to return as a “tester” does not give a plaintiff standing to sue under Title III of the ADA.

 

As we’ve reported before, the number of ADA Title III lawsuits has surged in the past few years, mostly in part due to a handful of plaintiffs who file hundreds of lawsuits each year.   Because a court can only consider an ADA Title III claim when there is a threat of an imminent future injury, these serial plaintiffs typically allege in their complaints that they have an intent to return to the business as a patron and that they are “testers” whose sole purpose is to see if the business is complying with the law.  Some courts have held that a plaintiff’s status as a tester does not necessarily bar the suit, emboldening plaintiffs to file even more suits in these jurisdictions.

 

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