Antonio Fernandez

Disability: paraplegic

Represented by: the Potter Handy Firm ("Center for Disability Access")

Number of lawsuits filed: hundreds

Targets: restaurants, liquor stores

Mr. Fernandez is paralyzed from the waist down. He's in his 60s. He uses a manual wheelchair and a SmartDrive power assist. He drives a '78 Cadillac, which gives him ample space to stow away his wheelchair. He has been unemployed since '09. 

As with most (if not all) Potter Handy "testers," Mr. Fernandez maintains no records of his ADA lawsuits. 

Is Mr. Fernandez an advocate for the disabled or is he a profiteer? You be the judge.  Examination by attorney Ara Sahelian:

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           13          Q.    Do you recall the first ADA lawsuit that you 

           14     filed?

           15          A.    No, I don't.  

     10:33 16          Q.    Do you recall how many years ago that was?

           17          A.    No, I'm sorry, I don't.  

...

           20                Did you file your first lawsuit maybe five 

           21     years ago or three years ago?  Do you have any 

           22     recollection at all?  

     10:34 23          A.    Actually I don't.  

           24          Q.    Was it ten years ago?  

           25          A.    I don't know.  Maybe.  Maybe five.  

            1          Q.    Okay.  Do you remember who your first attorney 

            2     was that represented you?  

            3          A.    Potter Handy.  That's it.  That's the only 

            4     representative counsel I've had.  

....

           22          Q.    Do you keep a list of the restaurants that you 

           23     sue?  

     10:35 24          A.    Do I list them?  

           25          Q.    Do you keep a list somewhere of the 

            1     restaurants that you sue?

            2          A.    No.  

            3          Q.    If I ask you to go back and tell me which 

            4     restaurants that you have filed suit against, would you 

            5     be able to do that?

            6          A.    No.  I don't.  I can't.  

     10:36  7          Q.    And you can't because -- 

            8          A.    Because there has been a lot of violations out 

            9     there, and --.  There's been a lot of violations.  And so 

           10     there's been a lot of cases.  So...  And I don't -- I 

     10:36 11     don't -- I -- you know, I don't tend to memorize who I -- 

           12     the violations are and who has them.  

           13          Q.    Okay.  And do you keep a diary or a log or 

           14     something of the restaurants that you've gone to that 

           15     you've sued?

           16          A.    No, I don't.  I don't think I should.  

           17          Q.    Okay.  

           18          A.    I mean, it's -- I'm not targeting any one 

           19     business.  There's different businesses that have the 

     10:37 20     violations.  So they're -- you know, they are from any -- 

           21     any type of business.  So...

           22          Q.    All right.  Does the same apply to other types 

           23     of businesses that you've sued?

           24          A.    Yes.  

           25          Q.    In other words, -- 

            1          A.    Sure.

            2          Q.    -- you don't keep a list?

            3          A.    No, I don't.