Fordham Law Review Online

Accessibility or Exploitation?: A Multiperspective Examination of ADA Title III Serial Litigation in New York City’s Chinatown

May 1, 2023

This Essay provides a nuanced understanding of the intersection of disability rights, accessibility, and Asian American history. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) codified the legal rights of people with disabilities but did not ensure that all businesses would have enough resources to comply with the statute. Despite Congress’s good intentions to ensure equal access for people with disabilities, Asian-owned businesses in Manhattan’s Chinatown are especially vulnerable to serial ADA lawsuits because of the neighborhood’s unique cultural history. The Essay proposes ways to help these businesses navigate ADA lawsuits, reduce serial ADA litigation, and improve ADA compliance in the long term.