An increasing number of Missouri small businesses are being drawn into costly Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website lawsuits, highlighting the growing compliance risk in digital accessibility. Writing in the Kansas City Business Journal, attorney Mark Williams of Sandberg Phoenix highlights a sharp rise in these cases, with Missouri now among the top states for ADA website litigation.

Williams raises growing concern that many of the lawsuits follow a repetitive “cookie-cutter” format, with nearly identical complaints often filed by a small number of plaintiffs and law firms. Smaller businesses, typically without in-house IT or accessibility expertise, are frequent targets, as settlements usually cost less than defending the claims.

As Williams notes, “While many of these lawsuits may appear predatory and driven by profit motives rather than genuine accessibility concerns, the legal threats they pose cannot be ignored.”

The Challenge: No Clear Standards, but Real Consequences

The lack of clear federal standards for website accessibility has created significant uncertainty. While the ADA was originally designed for physical spaces, courts are increasingly applying it to online environments. Businesses feel the Department of Justice has left them to interpret what compliance means in the digital space, and this uncertainty is being exploited by some who file lawsuits that may not always be on the level. 

However, businesses should beware. Courts continue to hold companies accountable when websites are not accessible, and any company doing business online in Missouri can face an ADA Title III lawsuit, regardless of where it is based.

Managing the Risk

With unclear standards and rising legal risk, the takeaway is simple: treat digital accessibility as a board-level risk, not a tech task.
This is exactly what Sitemorse does — independent, risk-led monitoring that combines automated checks with expert review, giving you a clear score, prioritised actions, and evidence for governance. Don’t rely on overlays or vendor assurances alone.

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Further Reading:

Read the full analysis: “Rising Tide of ADA Website Lawsuits Targets Missouri Small Businesses” in the Kansas City Business Journal:
https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2025/09/01/ada-website-lawsuits-missouri-small-businesses.html