A bathroom mirror two inches too high drags family-owned restaurant into lawsuit

[celeb_2006]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCHsxrhdDX4[/YOUTUBE]

Faces of Lawsuit Abuse.org - View The Stories

In the restroom of a family-owned restaurant in Southern California, employees replaced a mirror that had been destroyed by vandals. Since the new mirror was two inches shorter than the old one, it was hanging two inches too high to satisfy disabilities regulations and standards. Once he was notified of the mistake, restaurant owner Ron Piazza immediately lowered the mirror. But it was already too late. Piazza's restaurant was sued.

"It would have been very easy for them to let us know that the mirror was a couple of inches too high, and we could have taken care of that right away," Piazza explained.

The plaintiffs are alleging that the height of Piazza's mirror inflicted damages each time they visited – for a total of 27 incidents in a three month period. "The multiple visits allow the plaintiffs and their lawyer to sue for damages per visit... Had I not lowered the mirror, they probably would have continued to come and log more visits," Piazza said. "It's very clear to me that they were instructed by someone who really knew the law on how many times to visit, [and] what to look for."

The same plaintiffs and plaintiffs' lawyers who are suing Piazza have also filed against at least two neighboring restaurants for similar claims. But these few plaintiffs are only examples of a much larger problem.

California is earning a reputation for serial plaintiffs who actively seek out opportunities to file disabilities lawsuits. More Americans with Disabilities Act suits have been filed in California than in any other state, according to an article about a particular "frequent filer" in the San Francisco Weekly. Some of these plaintiffs have filed hundreds or even thousands of disabilities-related claims, often averaging several thousand dollars in profits for each one. (For example stories, see the Orange County Register and the San Diego Union-Tribune.)

Many of these suits have shuttered family-owned restaurants and small businesses. Fortunately, Piazza will keep his doors open, despite the fact that the lawsuit is costing more than the restaurant in question made last year. Given the potential impact of a lawsuit alleging such a minor violation, Piazza worries not only for his restaurant but for "every other business in California that's having to sustain itself against these lawsuits."

[Beeyotch]

This is silly, what a frivolous lawsuit.

I thought it was going to be about how the mirror was positioned too high and somehow let others see inside the stall or some other real violation of privacy. This is just dumb.

[buttmunch]

I hope it gets thrown out and leads to law changes. Quite frankly, those doing the suing should be thrown in jail for a few months to cure them of their suing disease.

[sputnik]

people are assholes.

[kingcap72]

Another bullshit lawsuit. That's the American way.

[sparkly]

I saw an episode of Penn & Teller where a lawyer terrorized a whole town, looking for things exactly like this to sue business owners over. He would give them a small period of time to give him X amount of dollars, and if they didn't pay up, he would charge them thousands of dollars more in penalties, then sue them anyway. I'm all for equal rights, but this is clear abuse of the system. If the plaintiff was really traumatized or something, all he/she had to do was tell the owner and he would've fixed it right away. It's obvious they're just wolves looking for cash.

[Brookie]

^ So, isn't that known as extortion?

[sparkly]

I hope it falls under that category, but perhaps that lawyer found a legal loophole. The town hired a lawyer to fight back, even though some people went out of business because of the suit before he was hired, and others have already paid him off. He sounds like a total douchebag, just like these people.

[McJag]

Oh,for pity's sake. I hop[e the sue-ees are made to pay all lawyer bills & court fees.