· Mr. Pinnock’s tactics are lawful and attract publicity. Publicity is good because it makes the public aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act and accessibility.

 

· For years the disability community has tried to encourage the media to cover positive ADA stories to promote voluntary compliance without luck. Controversial stories are more interesting to the public.

 

· So naturally, the media covers controversial stories such as Pinnock’s tactics:

 

1. Mass mailings to one community or industry;

2. Short Deadlines;

3. A demand for accessibility;

4. The greed factor – demanding money for financial gain;

5. The Do-It-Or-Else Threat of litigation;

6. The duality factor – a person with a disability creates empathy in people; a lawyer creates the feeling "kill all the lawyers."

 

These six factors sum up Pinnock’s lawful tactics. The media calls it a shakedown in a general sense because it is not unlawful.

· On November 11, 2005, Mr. Pinnock did not foresee a trip to Julian would be a media shakedown story. Pinnock’s tactics forced a public debate over accessibility.

· The ADA was passed in 1990. Federal, state, local and non-profits invested millions on ADA public awareness and public education.

 

· For profit ADA Consultants have aggressively advertised  their services.

 

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