New York ADA Website Compliance Guide

🚨 NEW YORK: HIGHEST RISK LITIGATION STATE

2,220 ADA lawsuits filed in NY in 2024 - second only to California. New York accounts for approximately 70% of all digital accessibility lawsuits nationally, with 77% of federal website cases filed in NY in 2023.

⚖️ Dangerous Legal Environment: NY plaintiffs add state-level claims under NY Human Rights Law that allow damage recovery (unlike federal ADA). Some NY laws provide $4,000+ statutory damages per violation, making cases more profitable for plaintiff attorneys.

🎯 Active Law Firms: 66% of 2024 web accessibility cases filed by just five law firms, with three based in New York. Major firms include Stein Saks, Sconzo Law, and Gottlieb Associates systematically targeting government entities.

📊 Government Targets: Municipalities with 50,000+ population face April 24, 2026 deadline under DOJ's final Title II rule. Serial plaintiffs increasingly target government websites following April 2024 regulation clarifying WCAG 2.1 AA requirements.

⚠️ Court Developments: SDNY Chief Judge ruled online-only businesses not covered by ADA, but this does NOT protect government websites which are explicitly covered under Title II.

💰 Settlement Reality: Government entities face both DOJ enforcement AND private lawsuits. Nassau County settled for $110,000, NYC Dept of Education for $125,000. Cost of non-compliance far exceeds remediation.