News
Attorney, And Other Man Charged with Conspiring in `Shakedown’ Lawsuits
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – An Inland Empire attorney and another man accused of
conspiring to file more than five dozen harassment lawsuits seeking payoffs
from small businesses over purported Americans with Disabilities Act violations
were arrested today.
Ross Christopher Cornell, 47, of Big Bear and Bryan Eduardo Estrada,
27, of Homeland are each charged with three counts of filing false documents
and three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.
The defendants were taken into custody without incident at their
respective residences and booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside,
where they’re both being held on $30,000 bail.
According to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, since
2019, the pair allegedly targeted more than 60 proprietorships countywide in so-
called “shakedown” civil actions, claiming that the victims were failing to
comply with federal disability access requirements specified under the ADA.
A review of the suits filed by Cornell, who has been practicing law
since 2000, revealed that the claims were part of a scam to extract payments,
prosecutors allege.
“The District Attorney’s Office supports accessibility rights for
disabled persons but strongly maintains that ADA laws should not be manipulated
solely for financial benefit, as alleged in this case,” according to an agency
statement.
Estrada was the alleged front man in the operation, visiting the
businesses and later submitting claims that he could not gain access, according
to the D.A.’s office.
It was unknown in how many instances Cornell offered to settle
litigation out of court and for what amounts.
The defendant has no documented prior felony or misdemeanor
convictions in Riverside County. Estrada also has no priors, according to court
records.
The D.A.’s office has previously filed charges against attorneys for
alleged shakedown suits, and in 2019, the agency was singled out for praise by
the nonprofit Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse for being proactive in trying to
safeguard the interests of business owners and deter “abusive ADA lawsuits.”
Copyright 2022, City News Service, Inc.
CNS-03-10-2022 11:53
By: Tiani Jadulang
March 10, 2022
Latest Instagram Posts
After a car drove through a walkway, damaging Bill’s Pizza, the restaurant appears to have begun repairs and is still open the following day. The neighboring store, Gallivant was also damaged and is closed until Monday. NBC Palm Springs is following the effects of this accident and what this means to the Palm Springs community. #billspizza #palmsprings #continuingcoverage #localnews #coachellavalley
Researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are using bioengineered baker's yeast to break down plastic into ingredients for cookies.
Camden, Arkansas, is the unlikely hub of US missile manufacturing after years of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have drained the country's arsenal. But the Trump administration's push to scale up defense production is colliding with the limits of the small, rural town.
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will 1) Devin Session with the diving TD, 2) Mason Flores with the dot on the run, 3) Reese Johnson with the clutch FG, 4) Kaylaun Smith running over defenders, or 5) Joshua Perez with the TD throw. #hondaofthedesert #fnl #fridaynightlights #fyp #highschoolfootball
🏒🔥 LET’S HEAR FROM TIM O’BRIEN! We’re kicking off Coachella Valley Firebirds Opening Night and catching up with Tim O’Brien! Hear what he has to say as the Firebirds get ready to hit the ice for another exciting season. 🏒🔥 #CoachellaValleyFirebirds #Firebirds #OpeningNight #Hockey #CoachellaValley PalmSprings CVFirebirds
SHARE this reel to help find ‘The Fab 5’ a home! 🐶🤍 #therogginreport #palmsprings #dogrescue #coachellavalley #nbcpalmsprings
🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Take a moment to know the warning signs, schedule your mammogram, and talk with your doctor about the screening schedule that’s right for you. Early detection can make a difference. 💗 #BreastCancerAwareness #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #Mammogram #EarlyDetection #BreastHealth CoachellaValley DAPHealth
🎬 FREE MOVIE TICKETS! 🍿❤️ Our Manny the Movie Guy is here with a chance to see the upcoming screening of “Love of Your Life” — FREE! 📅 This Tuesday 📍 Mary Pickford Theatre — Cathedral City Want to see the movie before everyone else? Manny has the tickets! 🎟️ Watch for details on how you can enter and score your FREE tickets! #MannyTheMovieGuy #LoveOfYourLife #FreeTickets #MovieScreening #CathedralCity CoachellaValley MaryPickford NBCPalmSprings
🚨 SB 1379 is officially law, separating the Riverside County Sheriffs department and the coroners offices effective July 2027. @maria_nvtv spoke with Sheriff Chad Bianco and a local mom, and both spoke on what this means to them. Be sure to go to nbcpalmsprings.com to see the full report #SB1379 #RiversideCounty #CaliforniaPolitics #ChadBianco #incustodydeaths
It’s time for Season 5!! Fuego stopped by the studio today with a message! Coachella Valley Firebirds season opener this Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. — tickets at CVFIREBIRDS.COM