Liberal, Crime, Government, Incompetence, Character, Financial, Greed, Law, Theft

George Louie is a West Sacramento man who has sued hundreds of Northern California cities and businesses for failing to comply with the federal Americans with Disability Act. This week, Yuba City announced it has agreed to pay Louie $15,000 to leave the city and its businesses alone for good. "He's agreed not to file ADA lawsuits in our city, period," said Darin Gale, Yuba City's economic development manager. "There's no timetable, it's forever."... Louie's lawsuits targeting local governments and small-business owners have usually ended in out-of-court settlements in his favor, because the cases are expensive to fight, said Cris Vaughan, a Loomis attorney who has defended dozens of clients against Louie's lawsuits.

Liberal, Crime, Government, Incompetence, Character, Financial, Greed, Law, Theft

Court records show Sullivan has filed at least 70 lawsuits since 2006. Sometimes he'll hit one particular area hard, like downtown L.A.'s Toy District. Court documents filed by Sullivan show 14 lawsuits in a 12-block area, all filed within three days. Court documents allege he visited 14 stores on the same day - Jan. 22, 2010. Two weeks later, Sullivan filed 11 more lawsuits in the Jewelry District on same day... At least six store owners got a letter from the small claims court commissioner as part of the judgment in their favor. The letter reads, "The court is convinced that Mr. Sullivan never really sought to patronize the stores, but instead went from store to store with a video camera to document the problems with access for a lawsuit."

Liberal, Crime, Government, Incompetence, Character, Financial, Greed, Immigration, Law, Theft

Alfredo Garcia, a paraplegic who has been in a wheelchair since 1996, is a serial plaintiff. The 41-year-old illegal immigrant and convicted felon makes a living suing small businesses in Southern California for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and its California equivalent. His days are spent going from business to business looking for violations like a bathroom mirror or a paper-towel dispenser that's too high. Garcia did not want to talk to Eyewitness News about the more than 500 lawsuits he's filed.

Liberal, Government, Financial, Greed, Law, Theft

One plaintiff, he says, has filed more than 1,000 ADA accessibility suits alone. California, along with Hawaii, Illinois and Florida, is a particular hotbed for ADA lawsuits and the law firms that bring them to court. "California may be the worst in the country," says Peters, citing several factors for potential abuse, chief among them two California statutes that provide $1,000 or $4,000 in minimum damages, plus attorney fees, per each successful claimant. Many claimants multiply these damage amounts by the number of conditions they observe at a property. This frequently results in $50,000 or more in damage demands, says Peters.

Liberal, Character, Financial, Greed, Law, Theft

In 2010, a state court judge in Los Angeles was critical of a serial plaintiff who had sued a restaurant for non-A.D.A. bathrooms. Under cross-examination, he admitted he made his living suing businesses. "Plaintiff said he goes out to places and is 'lucky' that he finds a (structural) barrier," the judge noted in her ruling, her incredulity seeming to jump off the page.