DENVER (AP) — A gubernatorial appointee in charge of the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council has filed dozens of lawsuits against small businesses claiming they violate federal disability laws.
The Denver Post reports that Mellisa Umphenour of Arvada has filed 64 lawsuits in U.S. District Court in the last year on behalf of her 11-year-old son, who is disabled.
The lawsuits rely on the Americans with Disabilities Act and allege a range of violations such as the height of bathroom mirrors, or the location of handicapped-accessible parking signs or the placement of toilet-paper holders. Umphenour filed as many as 20 such lawsuits in one day.
Business owners call the lawsuits predatory, since they often appear without warning and ask for thousands of dollars in settlement costs.
Neither Umphenour nor her attorney, James Carr, responded to requests for comment.
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Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com
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