ADA in the News January 11, 2021

Disbarred serial-suer Peter Strojnik blocked from filing new cases

A disbarred attorney, who continued to file hundreds of disability lawsuits on his own behalf, has been permanently blocked from filing new cases in Arizona’s federal court district without permission.

Judge Diane Humetewa officially labeled Peter Strojnik a “vexatious litigant” in a scathing ruling that compared his lawsuits to legal extortion and stated that he “habitually over-exaggerates his injuries.”

Former JAUNT employee accuses company of violating disability protections

A former JAUNT driver has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the public transportation company, alleging they violated disability protections when they fired her.

Delta Airlines Bans Emotional Support Animals While Flying!

Delta Airlines joined the ranks of Alaska and American Airlines in no longer accepting emotional support animals (dogs, cats, etc.) and requiring trained service dogs proper and official documentation when boarding their planes.

DOT Proposes Rule to Improve Access to Vehicles for People with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released for public comment a proposed rule to improve access to motor vehicles, including rental cars, for people with disabilities. The rule proposes changes to NHTSA’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard to facilitate the use of adaptive equipment in rental cars and to simplify vehicle transport of wheelchairs and scooters. 

Federal law generally prohibits making a vehicle’s safety features inoperable. One proposed change would permit rental car companies to temporarily disable a driver’s air bag to install hand controls. In an accident, the deployment of the knee bolster air bag can result in the hand controls hitting and injuring the driver. A second proposed change would allow installation of rear-mounted transporters for wheelchairs and scooters. These transporters may obstruct the view of a vehicle’s backup camera.  

Public comments are due January 27, 2021. For further information, visit DOT’s website or contact Gunyoung Lee of NHTSA Office of Crash Avoidance Standards at (202) 366-6005, Daniel Koblenz of NHTSA Office of Chief Counsel at (202) 366-5329, or David Jasinski at (202) 366-5552.

Feedback Form