Man Files 1,800 Disability Lawsuits Against Southern California Businesses, Owners Say They’re Fed Up

Internet Marketer Anthony Bouyer has filed a staggering number of lawsuits across California’s San Fernando Valley, targeting small businesses over alleged accessibility violations.

On September 24, the 55-year-old visited a modest Mexican restaurant where he said the counter was too high for him to reach from his wheelchair. He sued. Next door, he found a produce scale positioned out of arm’s length. He sued again. A few doors down, at another Mexican eatery, he saw a cracked parking lot and difficult door hardware. That business owner, Elia Barraza, was served papers just a day before her 53rd birthday.

“This person is just suing anyone,” said her son, Steven Barraza. “It’s just for nitpicking things,” The Los Angeles Times reported.

Bouyer’s lawsuits fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal law designed to ensure equal access for people with disabilities. In California, the Unruh Civil Rights Act allows plaintiffs to collect financial damages, typically $4,000 or more per violation, creating a powerful incentive for enforcement.

Advocates say these lawsuits are often necessary to compel businesses to comply with accessibility standards. However, many small business owners argue that a small group of repeat plaintiffs is exploiting minor infractions, flooding courts with claims and forcing costly settlements.

Bouyer has been especially prolific. In Los Angeles County alone, he had filed at least 231 lawsuits this year by the time of the September incident.

Representing him and other frequent plaintiffs is Manning Law, an Orange County-based firm that has filed more than 1,000 ADA-related cases in Southern California through a handful of repeat clients. The firm has drawn scrutiny. Its founder, Joseph Manning, was recently suspended by the State Bar for allegedly submitting “fraudulent billing statements” in dozens of cases, though the firm denies wrongdoing and says its billing practices have been corrected.

For many businesses, fighting these claims is simply too expensive. The Barraza family said they were initially asked to pay $25,000 to settle but negotiated it down to $10,000, still a significant blow to their small restaurant’s profits.

Zuheir Nakkoud, who manages a liquor store in Sylmar, said Bouyer measured his handicapped parking space before coming inside to buy water. Soon after, the store was sued. Nakkoud chose to settle for $14,000 rather than face mounting legal fees.

“This money’s for my kids, not for him,” he said.

Bouyer, who says he became paralyzed after spinal surgery about a decade ago, has described himself in legal filings as a disability advocate. In a 2023 deposition, he said he regularly inspects businesses using a 12-inch level gauge.

“Everywhere I go, if I see something that doesn’t look correct, I measure it,” Bouyer said.

Legal experts say most defendants settle quickly. But some, like defense attorney Ara Sahelian, have taken a stand. Sahelian, who uses a wheelchair himself, now refuses to settle cases and instead fights them in court.

“Four years ago, I had a fuse trip, and I said I’m not settling these cases anymore,” he said.

He argues that while serious accessibility barriers should be addressed, many lawsuits stretch the intent of the law. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Sacramento have struggled to pass reforms that would give businesses time to fix violations before facing penalties.

For now, the legal landscape remains unchanged, and for many small business owners, the cost of compliance, or of fighting back, continues to climb.

“All the money’s going to lawyers,” said laundromat owner Kenny Majers. “It’s not fair.”