ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: an online fashion retailer
Plaintiff's Firm: WILSHIRE LAW FIRM
Case Summary
Plaintiff Portia Mason, represented by Wilshire Law Firm, has filed a federal lawsuit against an online fashion retailer in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on June 3, 2021. The complaint alleges that the e-commerce website is not fully and equally accessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals who use screen-reading software, thereby violating their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act.
The complaint outlines numerous Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) violations, including the lack of alternative text for non-text elements (images and graphics), empty links without descriptive text, redundant links, and linked images missing alt-text. Other barriers include issues with title frames, script accessibility, forms, text resizing, time limits, page titles, keyboard navigation focus indicators, language declaration, and programmatic determination of user interface elements, all of which impede independent access to products and services.
This case serves as a critical reminder of the legal exposure for businesses, particularly online retailers, that fail to ensure their websites are digitally accessible. Such non-compliance can lead to significant litigation under federal and state accessibility laws, emphasizing the necessity for regular audits and adherence to WCAG standards to provide equal access for all users.
Unlock Full Intelligence Report
Obtain the technical WCAG violation analysis, target metadata, and legal stakes for Case #.
Case Q&A
What specific WCAG violations is this online fashion retailer accused of?
The online fashion retailer is accused of lacking alternative text for non-text elements (images/graphics), having empty links that lack descriptive text, including redundant links, and having linked images that are missing alt-text. Further violations include issues with keyboard operability, forms, and programmatic determination of UI elements.
Who filed this lawsuit, and which law firm?
The lawsuit was filed by Portia Mason, and she is represented by Wilshire Law Firm.
What legal risk does this create?
This lawsuit creates a legal risk for all businesses, particularly e-commerce platforms, that operate websites not fully accessible to visually impaired individuals, leading to potential litigation under ADA Title III and state civil rights acts for non-compliance with digital accessibility standards.