WASHINGTON—A group of U.S. senators have followed up their September 2018 letter to the Department of Justice (DoJ) with another request the agency to take action to promote clarity, compliance and accessibility regarding how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites.
Credit unions around the country have faced lawsuits due to the uncertainty.
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Crapo (R-ID) Joni Ernst (R-IA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) said in their letter sent this week that the DOJ has not cleared up any uncertainty.
“We therefore urge the Department of provide further clarity, especially given that the issue of whether the ADA applies to private websites at all—or the scope of such an application—continues to be subject to conflicting judicial opinions,” the letter reads. “Absent further guidance, compliance will remain a matter of increasing litigation and inconsistent outcomes. Regulation through litigation should not be the standard.”
CUNA said it will attend opening arguments in a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ADA lawsuit next week, one in which CUNA and the Michigan Credit Union League filed amicus briefs in support of two credit unions.