NASHVILLE A prolific plaintiffs’ lawyer who has filed more than 100 suits against credit unions and banks over provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act requiring all ATMs to be accessible to the sight impaired added another seven ADA actions Monday, including six filed here in federal court.
The latest suits filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee by the Pittsburgh law firm of R. Bruce Carlson on behalf of a single plaintiff and name as defendants Old Hickory CU, Electric Service CU, Avenue Bank, Capital Bank, Wilson Bank and Trust and MidSouth Bank. Carlson’s firm, which is also suing credit unions in Texas, Pennsylvania and Delaware, also filed an ADA suit in federal court in Michigan Monday against Lakes Community CU.
The suits all seek a court order directing the credit unions to bring their ATMs in compliance with provisions of the ADA, including providing Braille keyboards and headphone jacks to provide verbal instructions for operations, among other changes.
Dozens of credit unions and banks have settled similar suits brought by the firm by agreeing to make the upgrades and provide regular reporting on compliance to the plaintiffs and to pay legal fees to the Pittsburgh firm. Among the credit unions agreeing to settle ADA suits are: AmeriChoice FCU, Premier America CU, Member Source CU, First Community CU, Houston FCU, Members Choice CU, JSC FCU, Coastal Community CU, Security One FCU, Fort Worth Community CU, Frick TriCounty FCU, Freedom United FCU, West AirComm FCU, Washington Community FCU and American Heritage FCU.
Carlson has declined several requests for interview from the Credit Union Journal.
