You're thinking too formally. I'm absolutely sure he's approached, for example, a coffee shop manager complaining about being 'yelled' at, 'stared' at etc. and bleated about the ADA. Manager says sorry, here's a $20 gift card. Russell is self aggrandizing so in his head, this then becomes an out of court settlement.
I believe he's been trying low value financial blackmail for years and getting refunds or comped food to make him go away (as well as the emotional type -'date me or I'll kill myself on your porch Erika!).
This is just the first time he's come near a big payout, he overplayed his hand and Viatron said no.