CUNA partnered with Georgia Credit Union Affiliates (GCUA) to continue aggressive nationwide defense of credit unions facing frivolous lawsuits with the filing of an amicus brief supporting Family First CU regarding claims of website noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Credit unions around the country are facing lawsuits and demand letters due to confusion over how the ADA applies to websites.
This brief follows a line of effort to bring attention and focus on the ADA issue; earlier this month six U.S. Senators wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding this issue and the havoc the unintended loophole has created. Georgia’s was one of 18 attorneys general from around the country with a strong joint message to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the need for the DOJ to draft and set final regulations regarding the ADA website accessibility standards. If the DOJ acted on this, it would end the loophole that has allowed credit unions and others to fall victim to lawsuit demand letters due to the uncertainty presently in the law.
Prior to the letter by the attorneys general, there was a similar letter from members of Congress, which nine Georgians signed onto, to urge action to clear up the ambiguities surrounding the ADA website issue. And this is in addition to the work credit unions put forth earlier this month at Hike the Hill to educate members of Congress on what is happening across the country regarding predatory litigation related to website accessibility, and the need for clear rules. This brief is just the next step in a long line of efforts to bring attention to this issue, and hopeful resolution.
