Plain-English summary
Court vacates judgment and remands, holding the case moot after plaintiff voluntarily dismissed related ADA suits
The Supreme Court decided Acheson Hotels v. Laufer is moot because the plaintiff, an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 'tester,' voluntarily dismissed other pending ADA suits. The Court vacated the lower-court judgment and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with mootness.
Why this matters
The decision affects who can sue under the ADA to enforce accessibility rules. By finding mootness here, the Court avoided resolving whether a person who only tests compliance, without intending to use the facility, has federal standing. The ruling could reduce some suits brought by so-called testers, at least where plaintiffs dismiss related cases in a way that eliminates live controversy.
Who may feel it
- People with disabilities and disability-rights advocates
- Business owners and operators of public accommodations (hotels, restaurants, retailers, websites)
- Attorney(s) and private plaintiffs who bring ADA testing suits
- Lower courts handling ADA website and access litigation
Key questions
- Does a person who acts only as an ADA 'tester' (with no intention of visiting the place sued) have Article III standing to bring claims about missing accessibility information?