ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: a restaurant chain

Andres Gomez has filed an ADA Title III website accessibility lawsuit against a restaurant chain in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on January 4, 2021. The plaintiff, who is legally blind, alleges that the defendant's online platform contains digital barriers that deny him full and equal access to goods and services, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The complaint specifies several critical WCAG 2.0 AA violations, including the lack of text equivalents for non-text elements and the conveyance of information about meaning and structure solely through visual presentation. Furthermore, the website is accused of having an incorrect reading sequence that affects content meaning, lacking descriptive page titles, and failing to provide explanations for images to screen reader users. These alleged deficiencies render the online platform incompatible with common screen reading software, hindering access for visually impaired consumers.

This legal action underscores the imperative for all businesses, particularly those operating both online and physical public accommodations, to ensure their digital presence meets accessibility standards. Failure to comply with ADA Title III and WCAG 2.0 AA guidelines can lead to costly litigation, including demands for permanent injunctive relief, significant policy changes, and the requirement to remediate web-based technologies to become and remain accessible to individuals with disabilities.