Slew of lawsuits over disability access frustrates US cafe and shop owners

Small busines owners say they’re being unfairly targeted – but disability advocates say violations must be dealt with

Rodrigo Nogueira was met with a surprise in April 2025 when lawyers contacted him out of the blue. They asked whether he needed legal assistance over a summons his restaurant received for violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

It was the first he had ever heard of it. The lawsuit listed 35 violations against No More Cafe, his restaurant in Manhattan’s East Village.