JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville woman who has filed 40 lawsuits against local businesses this year under the Americans with Disabilities Act appears to have a family tie to the law firm that filed the cases, the I-TEAM has found.
Wanda Moore, a wheelchair-bound double amputee, claims the small businesses she has sued were not following the standards of the federal law, which prevented her from accessing their services.
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In 23 of her lawsuits, Moore states that her 30-year-old son, Rumley Moore, was with her as she visited the restaurants, shops and convenience stores.
Attorney Robert Gibson has filed all 40 of Moore’s lawsuits. When the I-TEAM called his office to ask if Rumley Moore works for the attorney on these cases, a receptionist said Rumley Moore wasn’t there, but that he works Monday through Friday.
A tip to the I-TEAM said Rumley Moore is an employee at Gibson's firm, possibly working as an investigator.
Gibson later called the I-TEAM about the call to his office, and stated that the receptionist we spoke with had only been working there a week, and that Rumley Moore is a student.
Several businesses targeted by the lawsuits told the I-TEAM that Wanda Moore was with her son when she visited, and said Rumley would take pictures inside. One restaurant even said they’ve seen Rumley before, but have never seen Wanda.
In addition to the 40 businesses named in the lawsuits, other local businesses said they’ve been threatened with legal action by Moore. Nina Teuscheld, owner of Lubi’s Hot Subs in Lakewood, said she settled with Moore before a suit was filed.
Lubi's had previously faced an ADA lawsuit, so the owner of the Lakewood staple knew of the potential costs involved.
Even though she faced an ADA complaint from Wanda Moore, Teuscheld said she doesn’t believe Moore has visited the restaurant.
“She's not been in my shop. Our business is so dead, we know every customer that has walked in our door for the last four years,” Teuscheld said.
Teuscheld believes Rumley Moore did come by the restaurant, something evidenced by a detail in the ADA complaint.
“How is she having issues with my men's room not having a handrail when she's a female?” Teuscheld asked.
But for Teuscheld, dealing with the ADA complaint was about more than just money -- it was personal. Her son, Robert “RW” O’Gorman, was in a freak skiing accident that left him on life support at the age of 12. He survived, but was left paralyzed on the left side of his body. Today, when he isn’t helping his mother at the restaurant, he works to help other people with disabilities and considers himself an advocate.
O’Gorman said Moore’s actions anger him.
“Put your money where your mouth is and go out and be more involved in advocacy and helping to change the world instead of taking from the world,” O’Gorman said.
The money lost in the settlement with Moore was money that Teuscheld said she couldn’t afford to lose. She is now working to sell the business.
Gibson has told the I-TEAM, "What we are doing is totally legal under federal law. Stores are not in compliance and they want to plead ignorance."
The I-TEAM still hopes to talk on camera with Gibson and Wanda Moore to get their side of the story, but so far they have refused interviews.