Small-Business Owner Praises California ADA Lawsuit Changes

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A new law signed by the governor is giving businesses time to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, rather than face potentially frivolous lawsuits aimed at taking advantage of small-business owners.

"What we call it is legalized extortion," said Squeeze Inn owner Travis Hausauer.

He describes what he says many small businesses have faced when dealing with the original Americans With Disabilities Act.

"Out of the blue I got hit with a lawsuit saying I was noncompliant with the ADA laws," he said.

His original Squeeze Inn was around the corner from his current Power Inn location. He says he couldn't afford to fix the building and pay lawyers.

"We closed it down and moved," he said.

He acknowledges his place was small, older, and not in compliance, but he says he's glad Gov. Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 269 into law to help California business owners.

"This gives a business owner an opportunity to fix the small things, keep his doors open, and no money changes hands," he said.

The law gives businesses with less than 50 employees 120 days to correct issues involving violations of the ADA.

Hausauer says the new law gives a fair shake to business owners while making sure everyone is welcome.

"They make it sound like business owners want to hurt the handicapped but we don't we want to make everything accessible," he said. "Everybody's money is green."