ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: an online custom invitations and event accessories provider
Plaintiff's Firm: WILSHIRE LAW FIRM
Case Summary
Gabriel Lalli, represented by Wilshire Law Firm, has filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on March 05, 2021. The complaint alleges that an online provider of custom invitations and event accessories failed to maintain an accessible website, thereby denying visually impaired individuals equal access to its products and services, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act.
The lawsuit specifically details numerous Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) violations, including missing alternative text for non-text elements and linked images, empty and redundant links, keyboard navigation failures such as an indiscernible focus indicator, and inaccessible forms. Further allegations include a lack of programmatically determined language, automatic context changes without user advice, and inaccessible Portable Document Format (PDF) files, which collectively render the website unusable for screen-reader software.
This case highlights the significant legal risks faced by businesses operating e-commerce websites or providing online services if their digital platforms are not fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. Companies in similar industries are vulnerable to lawsuits alleging discrimination and may be required to implement costly remedial measures, including injunctions to modify their websites to comply with WCAG 2.1 guidelines and potential statutory damages.
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Case Q&A
What specific WCAG violations is this online custom invitations and event accessories provider accused of?
The online provider is accused of numerous WCAG violations, including missing alternative text for non-text elements and linked images, empty and redundant links, keyboard navigation failures with an indiscernible focus indicator, inaccessible forms, lack of programmatically determined language, automatic context changes, and inaccessible Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
Who filed this lawsuit, and which law firm?
The lawsuit was filed by Gabriel Lalli, and the plaintiff is represented by Wilshire Law Firm.
What legal risk does this create?
This creates a legal risk for similar businesses of lawsuits under the ADA Title III and state civil rights acts, potentially leading to injunctions requiring website modifications to meet accessibility standards and the payment of statutory damages.