ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: a falafel restaurant chain
Plaintiff's Firm: MANNING LAW, APC
Case Summary
Plaintiff Perla Mageno, a blind individual, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against an online falafel restaurant chain in the Central District of California on June 24, 2020. Represented by MANNING LAW, APC, Ms. Mageno alleges that the defendant's e-commerce website contains numerous access barriers that deny blind and visually-impaired individuals full and equal access to its goods, services, and privileges, in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act.
The lawsuit specifically identifies several website accessibility barriers. These include the absence of alternative text (Alt-text) for graphics, links, and buttons, rendering them incomprehensible to screen-reading software. Additionally, the plaintiff encountered unlabeled or mislabeled interactive elements, insufficient navigational headings on multiple pages, and inaccessible menu browsing and store location functionalities for screen reader users. These deficiencies collectively prevent independent navigation and use by blind and visually-impaired consumers.
This case highlights the ongoing legal risks for businesses operating e-commerce websites and digital platforms that fail to adhere to established web accessibility guidelines. Companies in the food service industry, particularly those with online ordering or information portals, face significant liability under both federal and state accessibility laws if their digital presence is not fully usable by individuals with disabilities, potentially leading to costly injunctions and statutory damages.
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Case Q&A
What specific WCAG violations is this online falafel restaurant chain accused of?
The online falafel restaurant chain is accused of having graphics, links, and buttons that lack or have incorrect Alt-text, multiple unlabeled or mislabeled interactive elements, insufficient navigational headings, and inaccessible menu browsing and store location functionalities for screen-reading software users.
Who filed this lawsuit, and which law firm?
This lawsuit was filed by Perla Mageno, a blind individual, and she is represented by MANNING LAW, APC.
What legal risk does this create?
This case underscores the legal risk for businesses, especially those in the food service sector with an online presence, of facing injunctions and statutory damages if their websites or digital platforms are not fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, violating ADA Title III and related state laws.