"In today's environment we're all watching our costs very carefully, and this kind of a cost is certainly something thats very, very difficult to recoup. This will just be a large loss for us."
Ro...
"In today's environment we're all watching our costs very carefully, and this kind of a cost is certainly something thats very, very difficult to recoup. This will just be a large loss for us."
Ron Piazza Downey, California
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.
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."
"Now I'm in the middle of a lawsuit, a very costly lawsuit... [because] I had a mirror in my men's restroom that was a couple of inches too high."
Like to rate videos and let people know what you think?
Automatically share your ratings, favorites, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader with YouTube Autoshare.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
Like to share videos with friends?
Automatically share your ratings, favorites, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader with YouTube Autoshare.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
To Onejanedoe2003. I Am so very sorry that you or someone you know are handicapped, And you think every one else should kiss your or there ass because of it. I am 6' 10" tall and I have to bend over to see into the mirrors for the handicapped. So should I file a lawsuit to have them raised or have a special one put in for me and other tall people. I too think the restaurant owner should have been given notice to have the problem fixed, And a follow up inspection to make sure it was done.
I didnt read all the comments on here, but i never heard anything in the video that told me this was even a disabled person, and I can tell you coming from a family member of a disabled person, this was probably NOT a disabled person that made this complaint.
No one is saying he shouldn't have fixed the problem. It's just ridiculous that something as small as a mirror missing the mark by two inches requires a lawsuit, thousands of dollars, and tax payer time and money to fix. You can't tell me that the simpler, more correct thing to do would have been for the costumer to approach someone in management, tell them the mirror needs adjustment, and let them fix it. Going to directly to a lawyer was totally uneccesary.
My only problem with this is that had this of been an offended minority, this would have never have been made public. Alas, because it is a disabled person, well let's just spill the beans and make them feel intimidated. Disabled people deserves the same consideration that everyone else in our society does.
In his own words the owner confesses that the mirror was put on without even checking to see if it was accessible to all. That is why the Disabled Act was created, to ensure that disabled persons are treated fairly. Deal with it and remember, it isn't just minorities you have to consider when opening a business to the public.
it's being publicized because it's a frivolous lawsuit. it defeats the purpose of the disabilities act, because a lawsuit like this could cost enough money to close the restaurant, and then no one, not even a disabled person could enjoy the restaurant. moreover, compliance with a building code should be enforced by the city, not by lawyers. this is part of a series of videos about abuse of lawsuits, so your "problem" doesn't really make sense.
There need to be restrictions on how lawsuits are applied. Unless there is a physical injury involved, a business owner should at least be given the chance to correct a mistake such as this before a costly lawsuit can be forwarded.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
because of it. I am 6' 10" tall and I have to bend over to see into the mirrors for the handicapped.
So should I file a lawsuit to have them raised or have a special one put in for me and other tall people. I too think the restaurant owner should have been given notice to have the problem fixed, And a follow up inspection to make sure it was done.