ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: Hotel & Resort Operator

Andres Gomez has filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court, Central District of California, on May 5, 2021, against a hotel and resort operator. The plaintiff, who is legally blind, alleges that the defendant's website, which offers services related to a brick-and-mortar hotel, is inaccessible to individuals using screen-reader software.

Plaintiff Andres Gomez, represented by MOORE LAW FIRM, P.C., identifies numerous accessibility barriers on the defendant's website. These include screen reader failures to read main menu graphic icons and other links, placeholder alternative text, focusable elements hidden by child element roles, empty button elements lacking accessible names, and bad values in hidden attributes. Further issues involve unreadable pages when stylesheets are off due to CSS positioning, unskippable long CSS animations, duplicate IDs, blank attribute tags, improperly closed tags, missing frame title attributes, and ambiguous link text. Additionally, the website exhibits missing visual labels for links and controls, insufficient text and background color contrast, inadequate contrast for user interface controls, empty page headings, incomplete color attributes, obscured focus outlines, new windows opening without warning, and unskippable CSS animations or transitions.

This action highlights the significant legal risks faced by online businesses, particularly those in the hospitality sector, if their digital platforms fail to comply with ADA Title III and related state statutes. Companies operating websites must ensure full and equal access for all users, including those with visual impairments, to avoid potential litigation, demands for injunctive relief, statutory damages, and attorneys' fees and costs, as sought by the plaintiff in this case.