Protecting Small Businesses

“Your website is out of compliance. Give me $10,000, or I’m going to sue you, destroy the business you’ve built, and ruin your life.” That’s not something any small business owner wants to read in a demand letter. While that’s not the exact wording, it’s the gist of letters they have been receiving. Unfortunately, it’s becoming all too common, especially in Missouri. 

You see, the Americans with Disabilities Act was written in 1990, before the dot-com bubble and years before most major corporations had websites—let alone small mom-and-pop shops. It ensures folks with disabilities have access to the same quality of life the rest of us do by requiring that “places of public accommodation” be built to meet their needs. That’s why you see wheelchair ramps in front of courthouses and handicap stalls in most restrooms.

Over the years, though, courts have decided Congress also meant websites when they said, “places of public accommodation.” That hasn’t been a big deal for big businesses, who have scores of employees who build their websites, but for small businesses, it’s created a dangerous web of lawsuits and liability—and it’s getting worse every day. 

In 2016, fewer than 200 ADA website lawsuits were filed in the United States. In 2025, there were over 4,000. You might think this is a growing problem for folks with disabilities, but the reality is that over half of those 4,000 lawsuits were filed by just 33 people. 

Many of these lawsuits target small businesses because they’re more likely to have older websites that aren’t compliant or to have tried to save some money by having their tech-savvy nephew build their website. On top of that, most Main Street businesses don’t have armies of corporate lawyers to fight back. Many try to settle, figuring it’s better to pay out than risk losing everything and suffering through years of costly litigation. 

The result is a lose-lose scenario. Small businesses and the communities they support suffer, and none of this does anything to help Americans struggling with disabilities live better lives. 

To fix this, I introduced the Protecting Small Businesses from Predatory Website Lawsuits Act. It’s a simple bill with a simple solution. Instead of letting this sue-and-settle scheme continue, it makes clear that these trial attorneys must notify small businesses whose websites are out of compliance and give them an opportunity to fix them before they can file a lawsuit. 

The bill is a win for small businesses and for folks with disabilities who want a website they can navigate. The ADA is supposed to help people, not hurt them. With my commonsense bill, hopefully that will be the case again.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves