More than two dozen businesses along North Belt Highway in St. Joseph have been sued over alleged Americans with Disabilities Act violations affecting access inside buildings and on properties, according to court documents discussed in a KMBC 9 report.
Attorney Kevin Puckett filed the lawsuits on behalf of client Bob Myers, who is reportedly blind and lives about an hour from St. Joe. The suits describe Myers as an ADA tester who visited multiple stores—sometimes as many as four in a day—and claim the testing found alleged mismeasured wall grab bars, toilet paper holders, and curbs.
The filings list 26 businesses ranging from small gas stations to big box stores. In commentary included with the coverage, ADA advocate Jack McElaney questioned the approach of filing many related cases, noting that the number of lawsuits being pursued could suggest an effort to “game the system” rather than focus on improving accessibility.