Attorneys Profiting from Thousands of Lawsuits Over Handicap-Accessible Websites

Lawyers filing lawsuits on behalf of visually impaired plaintiffs are reaping most of the settlement money from businesses accused of non-compliant websites.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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An investigation by Channel 2 Action News has found that thousands of lawsuits have been filed in recent years claiming businesses do not have handicap-accessible websites, with the majority of the settlement money going to the attorneys rather than the plaintiffs. While the lawsuits name visually impaired individuals as plaintiffs, attorneys appear to be taking advantage of the lack of clear federal standards for website accessibility to generate significant payouts, often in the tens of thousands of dollars per case.

Why it matters

The proliferation of these lawsuits has become a major burden for small businesses, who say they are making efforts to improve website accessibility but are still being targeted. The situation raises concerns about potential abuse of the Americans with Disabilities Act to generate profits rather than drive meaningful accessibility improvements.

The details

Of the nearly 4,000 website accessibility lawsuits filed in 2025, 90% were from just 16 law firms. One attorney, Victor Ariza in Miami, had his name attached to 383 such lawsuits between 2022 and 2025. While the lawsuits name visually impaired individuals as plaintiffs, business owners say the plaintiffs are often paid only $500 per settlement, while the attorneys reap the vast majority of the tens of thousands of dollars in settlement payouts.

  • In 2025, nearly 4,000 website accessibility lawsuits were filed.
  • Between 2022 and 2025, attorney Victor Ariza's name was on 383 such lawsuits.

The players

Victor Ariza

An attorney in Miami who had his name attached to 383 website accessibility lawsuits between 2022 and 2025.

Sara Campbell

A small business owner who was sued again for her website's accessibility despite consulting with a school for the blind and hiring special ADA coders.

Nayan Padrai

A small business owner in California who was sued and is now producing a documentary on the website accessibility lawsuits.

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What they’re saying

“As a small business, it's just a wipeout machine.”

— Sara Campbell, Small business owner (Channel 2 Action News)

“No one has an intention of making their business inaccessible.”

— Nayan Padrai, Small business owner (Channel 2 Action News)

“They're being kinda told that they're doing good work by helping businesses become accessible. What they're actually doing is getting the plaintiff's bar very rich.”

— Nayan Padrai, Small business owner (Channel 2 Action News)

What’s next

Unlike physical accommodations like wheelchair ramps, there are no clear federal standards for what constitutes an accessible website, leaving businesses vulnerable to lawsuits. Lawmakers and regulators may need to provide more guidance to businesses on website accessibility requirements.

The takeaway

This investigation highlights the potential for abuse of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as attorneys appear to be exploiting the lack of clear website accessibility standards to generate lucrative settlements, often at the expense of small businesses trying to comply. Addressing this issue will require a balance between protecting the rights of the disabled and ensuring fair and reasonable compliance standards for businesses.