Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Is Brooklyn Amputee Crusader For The Handicapped Or Litigious Exploiter?
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 5, 2011
Modified Jun 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 5, 2011
Modified Jun 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A disabled Brooklyn Hasidic man has been waging a litigious war against city establishments which are sorely lacking in handicap accessibility. Zoltan Hirsch, who is a double amputee in a wheelchair, has filed 87 federal claims in the last year—36 in May alone—against businesses for a variety of violations which have prevented him from entering. But is it kosher for him to sue a non-kosher restaurant which he would never eat at anyway? Or a strip club where he couldn't get a private lap dance?
According to the Post, Hirsch has sued nearly everywhere from Brooklyn Dunkin' Donuts to Louis Vuitton in SoHo, from Midtown's Lace strip club to the Red & White Spa in SoHo. His lawsuits are often filled with precise descriptions of alleged violations inside, including bars that are inches too high, condiments that are out of reach, and bathroom towels inaccessible to a wheelchair user. But as the Post puts it, Hirsch generally just "rolls down the street, block by block, looking for places that can't let him inside"—and many businesses think its more exploitative than useful for other handicapped people.
"It's a shame that people are able to do this. It's really just extortion," said Dawn Cameron, owner of Sanctuary Tea in SoHo, who Hirsch sued last month claiming he couldn't get in the door. Cameron said there are two steps to reach the restaurant, and wheelchair users are helped inside when they come; but Hirsch's lawsuit could cost thousands in legal fees to fight, and potential ruin her restaurant.
According to other lawyers, Hirsch's lawyer seems to be exploiting the Americans with Disabilities Act, which allows the payment of attorney fees. "These lawsuits are often intended for personal profit, not for the reason of ensuring access to places of public accommodation,"said Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Southern California Republican who has proposed legislation against so-called "hit and run plaintiffs."
There is also criticism that Hirsch focuses his lawsuits on ritzy upscale neighborhoods such as SoHo, and not businesses in his own neighborhood Borough Park. He defends his right to sue the non-Kosher restaurants, or the strip club where he couldn't access the VIP rooms on the second floor: "It's my prerogative."
Tagged
amputee
brooklyn
handicap
Hasidic
lawsuit
litigious
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NJ early voting begins Saturday. Here's everything you need to know.
Our 2026 New Jersey voter’s guide for this year’s midterm elections.
By
Mike Hayes
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 11:01 a.m. ET
Countdown clocks are coming to an NYC bus stop near you
New York City bus service isn't exactly reliable, but new digital countdown clocks will give riders a better sense of how long they have to wait.
By
Stephen Nessen
News
Countdown clocks are coming to an NYC bus stop near you
New York City bus service isn't exactly reliable, but new digital countdown clocks will give riders a better sense of how long they have to wait.
By
Stephen Nessen
Are NJ schools unconstitutionally segregated? It's back to the courts to decide.
By
Colleen O'Dea
Early Addition: New Jersey considering a ban on chewing gum because of microplastics
By
James Ramsay
Queens mother charged with murdering her son after failed suicide attempt, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .