WASHINGTON — Amy Rowland spent Wednesday telling her story on Capitol Hill.
The owner of the Bulldog Northeast bar and grill in Minneapolis says she was the victim of a lawyer who charged her business with violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in hopes of a quick cash settlement.
After spending $15,000 in legal fees on a preliminary hearing and facing tens of thousands more for future court dates, Rowland settled her case for $8,000.
Now, she's urging Congress to rein in a legal tactic that has been used on scores of Minnesota businesses and on thousands of businesses across the country. "You have no notice, no time to do remedies," Rowland said as she sat in the office of Republican Rep. Ted Poe of Texas.
Poe has introduced a bill that would require businesses to be notified of specific ADA violations and be given up to six months to fix them before they can be sued.
Poe said the bill's intent is twofold. First, it would "make sure violations of the ADA are solved," he said. Second, it would prevent "frivolous lawsuits."
Paul Hansmeier, a Minneapolis lawyer who has brought many ADA-related suits, including the one against Rowland, defended his legal actions and said they would continue.
Rowland also pleaded her case to the staffs of several members of Minnesota's congressional delegation Wednesday. In particular, she asked for help in keeping business owners from being sued personally for discrimination as Minnesota disability law allows.