ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: Online Luxury Apparel Retailer
Plaintiff's Firm: WILSHIRE LAW FIRM
Case Summary
Plaintiff Crystal Redick filed a federal complaint on July 28, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against an online luxury apparel, shoes, and accessories retailer. The lawsuit alleges that the defendant's website is inaccessible to blind and visually impaired individuals, preventing them from accessing goods, services, and store information.
The complaint identifies several specific barriers preventing screen-reader software from functioning properly on the website. These include a lack of alternative text embedded within graphics, empty links without descriptive text, redundant or adjacent links leading to the same URL, and linked images missing alt-text. These issues collectively render the website incompatible with screen-reading technology, denying access to visually impaired users.
This litigation highlights the critical importance for all businesses operating e-commerce websites to ensure full compliance with ADA Title III and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Failure to provide an accessible digital platform exposes companies to significant legal risks, including demands for injunctive relief to remediate the website and statutory damages under state law, in addition to attorneys' fees and costs.
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Case Q&A
What specific WCAG violations is this online luxury retailer accused of?
The online luxury retailer is accused of lacking alternative text for graphics and linked images, having empty links without descriptive text, and featuring redundant links that create navigation difficulties for screen-reader users.
Who filed this lawsuit, and which law firm?
Crystal Redick filed this lawsuit, represented by Wilshire Law Firm.
What legal risk does this create?
This lawsuit creates legal risk for similar businesses that operate inaccessible websites, potentially leading to claims for injunctive relief, statutory damages under the Unruh Act, and attorneys' fees and costs under both the ADA and Unruh Act.