ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: An Online Hotel and Resort Platform
Plaintiff's Firm: RODERICK V. HANNAH, ESQ., P.A. and LAW OFFICE OF PELAYO DURAN, P.A.
Case Summary
Plaintiff Oscar Herrera has filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on September 30, 2024, against a foreign for-profit corporation operating a chain of hotels, alleging unlawful disability discrimination under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding the accessibility of its website. The plaintiff is represented by RODERICK V. HANNAH, ESQ., P.A. and LAW OFFICE OF PELAYO DURAN, P.A.
The complaint outlines several specific WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA violations, including a lack of text alternatives for videos on dining webpages, inaccessible play/pause and volume buttons, a progress slider not accessible via the tab key, floor plans and meeting specifications that cannot be accurately read by screen readers due to random focus movement and unlabeled values, menus where drink labels and prices are announced together as one long number, "dining type" tabs inaccessible by keyboard, inability for keyboard-only users to book rooms, pop-ups not announced or given focus, slide buttons for carousels not accessible via tab or arrow keys, lack of error notifications for incomplete form fields, navigation links not announced as links, and floor plans presented as images of text that screen readers cannot process. The defendant is also accused of failing to provide an accessibility notice or contact information for disabled individuals.
This legal action underscores the significant risk faced by businesses, particularly those in the hospitality and online reservation sectors, that fail to ensure their digital platforms are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. The lawsuit emphasizes the critical need for websites to comply with ADA Title III requirements and WCAG guidelines to prevent discriminatory practices, ensure equal access to online services, and avoid similar legal challenges, thereby fostering inclusive digital experiences for all users.
Unlock Full Intelligence Report
Obtain the technical WCAG violation analysis, target metadata, and legal stakes for Case #.
Case Q&A
What specific WCAG violations is this hotel and resort website accused of?
The website is alleged to have numerous barriers, including missing text alternatives for videos, inaccessible media controls, keyboard navigation failures on filtering and booking features, improper focus order for pop-ups and carousels, lack of error identification for forms, navigation links not announced as such, and images of text that screen readers cannot read.
Who filed this lawsuit, and which law firms?
Oscar Herrera filed this lawsuit, and is represented by RODERICK V. HANNAH, ES
, P.
and LAW OFFICE OF PELAYO DURAN, P.
What legal risk does this create?
This case highlights the legal imperative for online platforms, especially those linked to physical public accommodations like hotels, to ensure full WCAG compliance. Failure to provide accessible digital services can lead to lawsuits, requiring injunctive relief, policy modifications, and the implementation of robust accessibility features to avoid continuous discrimination claims under ADA Title III.