Deadline for hotel swimming pools being disabled-friendly passes. Now what?

Beginning this week, most public [and hotel industry] swimming pools, wading pools and spas must be accessible to disabled people to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or face civil penalties of $55,000.

Justice Department announced a March 2012 deadline for compliance. But confusion over the standards…moved the deadline to Jan. 31, sought to clarify the rule and grandfathered in some equipment that was purchased by pool operators during the debacle.

PoolSpaNews: The deadline may unleash a string of litigation pertaining to lifts. Generally speaking, the ADA is often cited in lawsuits aimed at hotels and other commercial and public facilities…With the pool lift requirement coming almost a year after enactment of the rest of the law, it’s possible that a series of suits will be filed shortly following the deadline.