ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: Online Women's Clothing Retailer

Plaintiff VICTOR ARIZA, represented by Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A., filed a lawsuit on February 25, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint targets an online women's clothing retailer, alleging violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act due to an inaccessible website.

The lawsuit details several critical access barriers on the e-commerce website. Specific allegations include product descriptions that are not properly labeled for screen reader integration, product prices that are inaccessible to screen readers, and a quantity option mislabeled as “edit scan off one selected.” Additionally, the website reportedly lacks essential prompting information for online forms and an 'accessibility' notice or policy that would provide contact information for disabled users. An expert review concluded that the defendant's website fails to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”) 2.0 Level AA.

This case underscores the significant legal exposure for businesses operating digital platforms that do not adhere to ADA Title III and WCAG standards. Non-compliance can lead to federal lawsuits, requiring businesses to implement extensive website modifications and potentially pay attorney fees and costs, highlighting the importance of ensuring full and equal online access for all individuals with disabilities.