Businesses and Groups Unite to Reform Predatory Lawsuit Law

The Reform CIPA Coalition aims to stop abuse of the California Disabled Persons Act.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:00am

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An abstract, fractured painting in shades of blue and gray depicting overlapping geometric shapes representing a wheelchair symbol and a gavel, symbolizing the tension between disability rights and legal exploitation.A coalition of businesses and organizations seeks to reform a California law that has enabled predatory lawsuits against small companies.Today in Sacramento

A diverse coalition of businesses and organizations across California have come together to reform the California Disabled Persons Act (CIPA), which has been increasingly exploited by predatory plaintiffs filing lawsuits over minor technical violations. The Reform CIPA Coalition is advocating for changes to the law to curb these abusive practices and protect small businesses.

Why it matters

The CIPA law was originally intended to improve accessibility for disabled individuals, but has been misused by some plaintiffs to file lawsuits seeking large payouts over trivial issues, putting a significant financial burden on small businesses. The Reform CIPA Coalition hopes to find a balance between disability rights and reasonable compliance standards.

The details

The Reform CIPA Coalition includes a wide range of businesses, nonprofits, and advocacy groups that have come together to push for reforms to the California Disabled Persons Act. They argue the law has been exploited by some plaintiffs filing lawsuits over minor technical violations, such as the placement of a sign or the width of a doorway, in order to extract large settlements from small businesses.

  • The Reform CIPA Coalition was formed in early 2026 to address the growing issue of predatory CIPA lawsuits.
  • The coalition is currently advocating for legislative changes to the CIPA law during the current session of the California state legislature.

The players

Reform CIPA Coalition

A diverse coalition of businesses, nonprofits, and advocacy groups formed to push for reforms to the California Disabled Persons Act (CIPA) and curb the rise of predatory lawsuits.

California Disabled Persons Act (CIPA)

A state law intended to improve accessibility for disabled individuals, but which has been increasingly exploited by some plaintiffs filing lawsuits over minor technical violations.

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What they’re saying

“The CIPA law was meant to help people with disabilities, not line the pockets of predatory plaintiffs. Our coalition is fighting to restore the original intent of the law and protect small businesses.”

— Sarah Chen, Spokesperson, Reform CIPA Coalition

What’s next

The Reform CIPA Coalition is currently lobbying state lawmakers to pass legislative reforms to the CIPA law during the current session of the California legislature.

The takeaway

This coalition's efforts highlight the need to balance disability rights with reasonable compliance standards, in order to prevent the CIPA law from being abused by predatory plaintiffs targeting small businesses.