Newsroom

March 05, 2018

ADA victory: Another CU's lawsuit dismissed

In another victory for credit unions facing litigation over unclear website requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal district court in Virginia found that the plaintiff to such a lawsuit did not have standing to sue ABNB Federal Credit Union because he was not eligible for membership and would likely not use the credit union's services.

"NAFCU is pleased to see yet another lawsuit dismissed against a credit union on this matter," said NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger. "It is another win for the industry as the courts recognize these plaintiffs have no standing. NAFCU will continue to actively defend our members in this fight as we have done from the very beginning."

NAFCU filed an amicus brief in support of this credit union.

Credit unions, banks and other entities have faced a rash of lawsuits in the past year related to website accessibility. NAFCU and its members strongly support the protections of the ADA and efforts to ensure individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against and have equal access to financial services. However, this is best achieved through clear guidance and standards for website compliance, not through meritless and costly lawsuits.

NAFCU has been active on ADA, engaging with various stakeholders on this issue, including with Congress, states' attorneys general and the Justice Department to clarify regulatory standards for websites.

Resources for dealing with the ADA issue can be found here.