Missouri lawmakers are advancing a slate of bills to curb what they call abusive “sue and settle” lawsuits targeting small businesses over Americans with Disabilities Act website compliance, a practice that has ensnared hundreds of local enterprises. On January 22, 2026, the House General Laws Committee passed five measures— HB 1674, HB 1694, HB 1755, HB 1780 and HB 2056 —dubbed the “Acts Against Abusive Website Access.” These proposals grant defendants 30 days to remedy accessibility issues in good faith and empower counter-suits against attorneys filing frivolous claims, according to KMBC .
The surge in litigation stems from attorney Kevin Puckett of Kansas City, who has filed 126 suits on behalf of Robert Glen Myers, a Hamilton, Missouri resident claiming legal blindness from macular degeneration. Myers lives on the Puckett family farm and declined comment. Targets cluster around Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield, hitting delis, ice cream shops, museums and even nonprofits like the Blue Springs City Theater, which settled under nondisclosure in October 2024 after a September filing. Settlements typically range from $5,000 to $40,000, with funds flowing primarily to lawyers rather than plaintiffs.
“There’s no compensation for the plaintiff. None of this money goes back to the plaintiff. It all goes back to the lawyer,” testified Scott Fetterman, owner of Fetterman’s Deli in Parkville and Kansas City, who settled an undisclosed amount after a June 7, 2025 demand letter. Fetterman urged lawmakers for recourse, echoing pleas from owners blindsided by automated scans flagging minor issues like missing alt text or form labels.
Attorney General Flags Litigation Shops
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway spotlighted the issue, stating, “The victim of the ripoff is the one who should benefit the most, not the lawyer.” She noted copycat suits create a “chilling effect” on businesses unaware of vague ADA web standards, as the U.S. Department of Justice has not issued formal regulations. Four companion Senate bills—SB 907, SB 1154, SB 1272 and SB 1471—advance parallel reforms, per KMBC .
Rep. Brian Seitz (R), sponsor of HB 1674 filed in December 2025, modeled it after Kansas’s 2023 “Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation,” which permits countersuits. “Some small businesses here in our southwest region contacted me. They were concerned that this was happening to other businesses,” Seitz told KMBC . His bill offers a 30-day cure period and attorney general oversight to vet legitimacy.
Proponents like Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Republic) argue, “We need to make sure that these lawsuits aren’t just a way for people to make money off of small businesses,” as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Rep. Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) added, “These ‘sue and settle’ tactics are out of control. We can’t let a few bad actors hold our economy hostage.”
Irony in the Lawsuits
An August 14, 2025 KMBC probe found Puckett’s own sites plagued by similar flaws: 11 errors on kevinpuckett.attorney, 17 on onthetopsearch.com (later disabled), and issues on adalegalteam.com and stealthdata.com, per WAVE tool scans. These mirror violations in his complaints, like empty links and missing labels, exposing potential hypocrisy as he sues over the same.
By May 28, 2025, at least 75 Missouri firms faced suits, including Gates BBQ, American Jazz Museum and Betty Rae’s Ice Cream, with 35 settling swiftly. Nationally, 2024 saw 3,800 cases, led by New York (1,600), Florida (629) and California (485), plus 353 elsewhere including Missouri, per KMBC . Expert Nayan Padrai of Ecomback, who faced a suit himself, stressed, “ADA compliance is important to help those with disabilities, but the ADA was never intended to be a monetary pursuit.”
Puckett defended his work, claiming sued sites “contain significant barriers for blind users relying on screen reader technology,” blocking access to goods and services. Businesses like Fetterman’s Deli owner affirmed willingness to fix issues but decried the shakedown: “Small business owners like me want to do the right thing, but we’re being dragged into courts by lawyers who profit off of technicalities.”
National Echoes and Broader Pushback
Missouri’s effort mirrors national frustration. The bipartisan federal ADA 30 Days to Comply Act, introduced December 9, 2025 by Reps. Michael Lawler (R-NY) and Lou Correa (D-CA), mandates pre-suit notice and 30 days to fix issues. Groups like NFIB and AAHOA back it, citing “sue and settle schemes.” Past House-passed H.R. 620 stalled amid disability advocates’ opposition.
In Missouri, the bills cleared committee January 22, 2026, heading to House Rules before the floor. Senate versions remain in discussion. As of January 25, 2026, no floor votes or passage, but momentum builds amid 2026 session pressures. Kansas’s law has deterred filings across the border, offering a template.
While backers hail protections for mom-and-pops facing $40,000 hits over unawares violations, critics warn weakened enforcement could sideline disabled access. Puckett insists suits follow ignored notices, enforcing DOJ guidance. Yet with Puckett’s 126 filings via one plaintiff, lawmakers see patterns warranting reform.
Path Forward for Reform
Success hinges on Senate action and Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature. If enacted, Missouri joins Kansas in arming businesses against what Seitz calls predatory tactics. Fetterman and peers hope for relief, allowing focus on operations over litigation defense. Hanaway’s office eyes inquiries into patterns, potentially amplifying state muscle.
The debate underscores tensions between accessibility mandates and litigation costs in a digital era. Small firms, lacking resources for full WCAG compliance, seek breathing room. As bills progress, stakeholders watch if Missouri tempers the ADA’s web frontier without gutting intent.
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