The Supreme Court is seen, Friday, April 21, 2023, ahead of an abortion pill decision in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a case surrounding a Maine hotel that could have made it harder for people with disabilities to learn in advance whether a hotel's accommodations meet their needs.
Hotels and other business interests had urged the justices to limit the ability of so-called testers to file lawsuits against hotels that fail to disclose accessibility information on their websites and through other reservation services.
The information is required by a 2010 Justice Department rule. People who suffer discrimination can sue under the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act, signed into law in 1990.
The justices did not issue a decision on the substance of the case. Instead, they dismissed the case and threw out a lower court ruling in favor of tester lawsuits. The outcome leaves the issue unresolved nationally.
Federal courts in some parts of the country allow such lawsuits. In others, those suits are barred.
The case in front of the court involved whether Deborah Laufer, a woman with disabilities, has the right to sue a hotel in Maine that lacked the accessibility information on its website, despite having no plans to visit it.
In an effort to forestall an unfavorable ruling, Laufer withdrew her lawsuit against the hotel.
With smart cameras playing a major role in the Nancy Guthrie case, Ring founder Jamie Siminoff addresses data security and privacy after that Super Bowl ad.
Rich Hill of Principal Asset Management breaks down where real estate capital is flowing, what’s driving returns, and how 2026 could reshape the market.
From surprise celebrity overload to fewer influencers, USA Today's Ralphie Aversa breaks down the biggest Super Bowl 60 ads and why AI quietly stole the show.