ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: Online Cosmetics Retailer
Plaintiff's Firm: ACACIA BARROS, P.A.
Case Summary
Plaintiff Raymond T. Mahlberg, represented by ACACIA BARROS, P.A., filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, on January 24, 2020, alleging that a prominent online cosmetics retailer's website is not accessible to visually impaired users.
The complaint details several WCAG 2.0 A violations, including missing alt attributes for image elements (F65), `` elements lacking text or an `` with alt attribute (F89), failure to identify row and column headers in data tables with `` elements and mark layout tables with `role=presentation` (F91), duplicate alt text causing screen readers to stutter, button elements with only an image lacking alt attributes (F65), and form controls having blank or no labels (2.4.1). These barriers prevent effective communication for blind and visually impaired individuals.
This action highlights the ongoing legal risks for e-commerce businesses that fail to ensure their digital platforms comply with ADA Title III requirements for website accessibility, potentially leading to injunctive relief, attorney's fees, and costs for companies that do not provide equal access to their online goods and services.
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Case Q&A
What specific WCAG violations is this online cosmetics retailer accused of?
The online cosmetics retailer is accused of several WCAG 2.0 A violations, including missing alt attributes for image and button elements (F65), `<a>` elements without text or an `<img>` with an alt attribute (F89), failure to identify row/column headers in data tables (F91), duplicate alt text causing screen reader stuttering, and form controls lacking labels (2.4.1).
Who filed this lawsuit, and which law firm?
This lawsuit was filed by Raymond T. Mahlberg, a legally blind individual, and is represented by the law firm ACACIA BARROS, P.
What legal risk does this create?
This creates a significant legal risk for businesses operating e-commerce websites, underscoring the necessity of ensuring full accessibility under ADA Title III to avoid lawsuits, potential injunctive relief, and the burden of attorney's fees and costs.