To illustrate his motivation in filing so many lawsuits, Martin Marcus recently suggested lunch at the 1800 Club. Even though he sued the property owners last July because of their lack of ADA compliance, he likes the venerable bar and grill, located at 1800 N. Bayshore Dr., because the food is decent, it offers a sports channel he can't get at home, and it is literally right next door to his condominium. A caregiver guides him on the short but precarious journey from his building to the restaurant, during which he is forced to travel down the roadway because the sidewalk is too uneven for his wheelchair. Marcus avoids the front door and its two steps, which would require him to tilt his wheelchair dramatically. The aide wheels Marcus down a sidewalk to the rear door and knocks.
Employees hurriedly move tables and chairs out of the way.
Although his lawsuit against the restaurant has been settled, Marcus has yet to see any remodeling. The settlement gave Ader Properties, owner of the building, a specific amount of time to complete the changes. But Ader has his own complaints. He says Marcus didn't need to slap him with a lawsuit in order to force changes. If he simply had been briefed about the ADA problems, Ader Properties would have undertaken the necessary remodeling.