ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: an online mooncake bakery
Plaintiff's Firm: WILSHIRE LAW FIRM
Case Summary
Thuy Thanh Alonzo, represented by WILSHIRE LAW FIRM, filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on August 11, 2021. The complaint targets an online bakery specializing in Thai and French pastry mooncakes, alleging its website is inaccessible to blind and visually impaired individuals, thereby violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act.
The lawsuit details numerous accessibility barriers, including a lack of alternative text for non-text elements and linked images, empty links without descriptive text, and redundant links. Further allegations include web pages missing titles, content relying solely on visual presentation, inadequate keyboard operability and discernible focus indicators, forms lacking equivalent functionality for disabled users, and inaccessible Portable Document Format (PDFs). The complaint also cites issues with the programmatic determination of user interface element names and roles, and a failure to provide labels or instructions for user input.
This legal action highlights the significant risk faced by businesses operating e-commerce websites if their digital platforms fail to comply with established accessibility guidelines like WCAG 2.1. Non-compliant businesses may face similar class action lawsuits seeking injunctive relief, statutory damages, and attorneys' fees, impacting their operations and reputation.
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Case Q&A
What specific WCAG violations is this online mooncake bakery accused of?
The online mooncake bakery is accused of numerous WCAG violations, including missing alternative text for images, empty and redundant links, web pages lacking titles, content relying solely on visual presentation, keyboard navigation issues, inaccessible forms, and inaccessible PDFs.
Who filed this lawsuit, and which law firm?
Thuy Thanh Alonzo filed this lawsuit, represented by WILSHIRE LAW FIRM.
What legal risk does this create?
This creates a legal risk for similar businesses of facing lawsuits under the ADA and state civil rights acts, potentially leading to demands for injunctive relief, statutory damages, and legal fees if their websites are not accessible to visually impaired individuals.