JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The number of lawsuits over violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act continues to grow. The I-TEAM has learned a second Jacksonville person has filed 10 federal suits this year.
For the past week, News4Jax has reported on 40 lawsuits of small businesses filed by double-amputee Wanda Moore and her attorney, Robert Gibson.
The similar lawsuits were filed by Clester Matthews using same attorney.
The I-TEAM learned of this from an anonymous letter delivered to WJXT late Tuesday. It contained a single line: "Check out ADA lawsuits filed by Robert Gibson for a Clester Matthews."
We obtained the lawsuits targeting convenience stores on the Westside, the Northside, Arlington, the beaches and Clay County. Three of the lawsuits were filed in February, two in March and four more in April. The most recent suit was dated July 12.
They were all from Robert Gibson's law office and were seeking plaintiffs' attorney fees.
One of the April lawsuits was against the First Choice Food Mart on Blanding Boulevard. That owner said he plans to fight Gibson over every penny.
Visiting Matthews Northside home Wednesday, his wife said through the door that he he was hospitalized in July after falling and breaking a rib. She said he was recovering in a rehab facility.
A source said the Matthews met Gibson through his chiropractic office -- he is also a licensed chiropractor --- which is connected to his law office on Atlantic Boulevard.
The I-TEAM also stopped by Moore's home Wednesday. We could hear people inside, at one point yelling, "Go away."
Sources said Moore's son, Rumley, works at Gibson's law office.
In addition to Gibson's "Law Doc" legal and chiropractic office, he also advertises wealth services at MillionaireUniversityOnline.com. The I-TEAM found Gibson registered the trademark for Millionaire University to his Jacksonville home address -- a home he later sold for $2.2 million.
On the website, which sells a full curriculum for $179.99, Gibson writes:
I understand what it takes to become a Millionaire. So many people have the desire to become rich but don't have a plan. Now, there is a powerful plan that can shape your destiny and help launch the millionaire within you."
We left another message at Gibson's office Wednesday, asking for him a chance to tell his side of the story, but by the end of the day he had not returned the call.