WASHINGTON: The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce official said it will seek to amend state and federal laws to head off what it describes as serial lawsuits demanding access for people with disabilities as a way to generate lucrative attorney fees.
The initiative comes in the wake of dozens of lawsuits filed by Minneapolis lawyer Paul Hansmeier against mostly small businesses in Marshall, Mankato, Rochester and the Twin Cities. The lawsuits are based on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires businesses to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, and similar provisions of the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
There’s no way to know how many businesses Hansmeier has sued because Minnesota, unlike most states, does not require a public filing to initiate a lawsuit. However, the Star Tribune has found 86 state and federal lawsuits filed publicly against a range of Minnesota businesses, including convenience stores, restaurants, health care providers, hotels, an antique store and a bowling alley.
