Hamilton man sues over 2 dozen St. Joseph businesses for alleged ADA noncompliance
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- A Hamilton, Missouri, man is suing over two dozen St. Joseph businesses, big and small, for their alleged ADA noncompliance.
Attorney Kevin Puckett and his client Robert (Bob) Myers have filed more than 100 ADA noncompliance cases in Missouri's Western District Court between August 2024 and June 2026 against multiple businesses across the state, ranging in issues.
Around 26 of the more than 100 businesses are in St. Joseph. At least three of them are located in Weston, Missouri, and one includes Shatto Milk Company in Osborn, Missouri.
The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990 with the intent to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities. According to a 2024 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 70 million Americans live with a disability.
According to court documents, Myers is "legally blind" and also "suffers from multiple physical impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities." Documents list that he is limited to walking, standing, bending, lifting, breathing, sleeping and endocrine function, among many other impairments.
Some of the St. Joseph businesses included in the list of lawsuits include: Belt Entertainment, Joe Town Mini Golf, Woodbine Petroleum, North Village Property LLC, St. Joseph Northgate LLC (Northgate Shopping Center) and more.
Among locally owned businesses, Myers is also suing Target, Panda Express, Chipotle, Five Below, Aldi and more.
According to previous News-Press NOW reporting, Myers has been a plaintiff in website ADA compliance lawsuits in the past.
Missouri recently enacted Senate Bill 907, which protects businesses from "sue and settle" predatory lawsuits for ADA compliance on websites, offering a grace period to ensure websites are compliant. The bill will take effect in August.
However, court documents allege Myers visits and shops in the St. Joseph area and acts as a "'tester' for the purpose of discovering, encountering and engaging discrimination against the disabled in public accommodations."
Violations St. Joseph businesses have seen range from no signage for accessible parking, ramps, grab bars, measurements for interior navigation and service counters and seating.
The Americans with Disabilities website lists all of the requirements for accommodations each public business needs to be compliant with https://www.ada.gov/topics/title-iii/.
