ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: an online clothing and accessories retailer

Windy Lucius, represented by J. Courtney Cunningham, PLLC, has filed an ADA Title III lawsuit against an online clothing and accessories retailer in the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, on April 7, 2020.

The plaintiff alleges the mobile application suffers from numerous accessibility barriers for visually impaired users. Specific violations include an inaccessible promo code field, color dropdowns announced only as text without indicating selectability, and incorrect announcements of product option selections. The complaint further details non-compliance with WCAG guidelines such as 1.1.1 (Non-Text Content) due to unlabeled image slider buttons, 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships) because out-of-stock items lack proper indication, and 1.3.2 (Meaningful Sequence) with incorrect tab order. Other issues cited involve WCAG 3.3.2 (Labels or Instructions) for text-only color dropdowns, 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value) for inaccurate size confirmations, 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels) for unexplained sale prices, and 4.1.3 (Status Messages) as cart updates are not announced.

This case highlights the ongoing legal risks for e-commerce businesses and mobile app developers whose digital platforms are not fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. Companies operating similar retail apps must ensure their applications are designed and maintained to integrate seamlessly with assistive technologies like screen readers, complying with ADA Title III and WCAG standards to avoid potential lawsuits and ensure equal access for all consumers.