Lawsuits filed by The Manning Law Firm Re ADA Website Compliance Violations

Here’s an example of a typical lawsuit sent by Manning Law Firm – Joseph R. Manning: 

Joseph R. Manning, Jr., Esq. (State Bar No. 223381)
MANNING LAW, APC
20062 SW Birch Street, Ste. 200
CA 92660
Office: (949) 200-8755
Fax: (866) 843-8308
[email protected]

Attorney for Plaintiff Perla Mageno

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA
IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY, VENTURA, SAN BERNARDINO

PERLA MAGENO, an individual                                                  Case No.:
Plaintiff,                                                                                        Complaint For Damages And Injunctive Relief For:
v.
1. VIOLATIONS OF THE UNRUH CIVIL RIGHTS ACT,
GARIBAY INC., a California corporation;                                      CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE § 51 et seq.
and DOES 1-10, inclusive,
Defendants.

Plaintiff PERLA MAGENO (“Plaintiff”) alleges the following upon information and belief
based upon personal knowledge:

INTRODUCTION

              1. Plaintiff is a visually-impaired and legally blind person who requires screenreading software to read website content using a computer. Plaintiff uses the terms “blind” or “visually-impaired” to refer to all people with visual impairments who meet the legal definition of blindness in that they have a visual acuity with correction of less than or equal to 20 x 200. Some blind people who meet this definition have limited vision. Others have no vision.

2. Plaintiff brings this civil rights action against GARIBAY INC., a California corporation, (“Defendant”) for its failure to design, construct, maintain, and operate its website (hereinafter the “Website” or “Defendant’s Website” which shall refer to (Your Website Domain), and any other website operated by or controlled by Defendant as well as any third party content which is located on or used in connection with (Your Website Domain) and any other website operated by or controlled by Defendant, for the purposes described herein) to be fully accessible to and independently usable by Plaintiff and other blind or visually-impaired people. Defendant’s denial of full and equal access to the Website and therefore denial of its products and services offered thereby and in conjunction with its brick-and-mortar locations, is a violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act (“UCRA”).

3. The California Legislature provided a clear and statewide mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities when it enacted the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Cal. Civ. Code § 51, et seq. Discrimination sought to be eliminated by the UCRA includes barriers to full integration, independent living, and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities, which then necessarily includes barriers created by websites and other places of public accommodation that are inaccessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals.
4. Because Defendant’s Website is not equally, independently, or fully accessible to blind and visually-impaired consumers in violation of the UCRA, Plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction to cause a change in Defendant’s corporate policies, practices, and procedures so that Defendant’s Website will become and remain accessible to blind and visually-impaired consumers.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

5. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant because it conducted and continues to conduct substantial business in the State of California, County of Los Angeles, and Defendant’s offending Website is available throughout California.

6. Venue is proper in this Court because Defendant conducts substantial business in this County. Venue is also proper because a substantial portion of the conduct complained of herein occurred in this District.
PARTIES

7. Plaintiff, at all times relevant and as alleged herein, is a resident of California, County of Los Angeles. Plaintiff is legally blind and cannot use a computer without the assistance of screen-reading software (otherwise known as a “screen-reader”). However, Plaintiff is a proficient user of the JAWS screen-reader and uses it to access the internet. Plaintiff has visited the Website on separate occasions using the JAWS screen-reader. During Plaintiff’s separate visits to Defendant’s Website, Plaintiff encountered multiple access barriers which denied Plaintiff full and equal access to the facilities, goods, and services offered to the public and made available to the public on Defendant’s Website. Due to the widespread access barriers Plaintiff encountered on Defendant’s Website, Plaintiff has been deterred, on a regular basis, from accessing the Website.

8. Plaintiff did not encounter, nor does she in any way base her UCRA claims alleged herein, upon the presence of any physical or architectural barrier in any public place of accommodation.

9. Plaintiff is a tester in this litigation seeking to ensure compliance with federal and state law. See Civil Rights Educ. and Enforcement Center v. Hospitality Props. Trust, 867 F.3d 1093, 1096 (9th Cir. 2017).

10. Plaintiff is also a consumer who wishes to access Defendant’s goods and services.

11. Plaintiff is being deterred from patronizing the Defendant’s Website and brick and-mortar locations on particular occasions.

12. If informed that the Website has been made accessible within the meaning of the UCRA and the ADA, Plaintiff will return to the Website to test its accessibility within 45 days to test such a claim of compliance with the law.

             13. Plaintiff has standing to sue Defendant under the UCRA. As the California Supreme Court explained in Angelucci v. Century Supper Club, 4l Cal.4th 160 (2007),”an individual plaintiff has standing under the [Unruh Civil Rights] Act if he or she has been the victim of the defendant’s discriminatory act.” Id. at l75.

14. The U.S. Department of Justice has emphasized the importance of enforcing laws that prohibit unlawful discriminatory behavior, especially in the era of the COVID-19 emergency. See Statement by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric S. Dreiband Protecting Civil Rights While Responding to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) found at https://www.ada.gov/aag_covid_statement.pdf.

15. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges Defendant is a California corporation, and has its principal place of business in Los Angeles. Defendant operates brickand-mortar locations in Los Angeles County, California. Defendant’s brick-and-mortar locations constitute places of public accommodation. Defendant’s Website provides consumers with access to an array of goods, services, and information related to Defendant’s brick-and-mortar locations including menu descriptions, online ordering, gallery options, pricing details, store location information, and many other benefits.

16. The true names and capacities of the Defendants sued herein as DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, are currently unknown to Plaintiff, who therefore sues such Defendants by fictitious names. Each of the Defendants designated herein as a DOE is legally responsible for the unlawful acts alleged herein. Plaintiff will seek leave of Court to amend this Complaint to reflect the true names and capacities of the DOE Defendants when such identities become known.

17. At all relevant times as alleged herein, each and every Defendant was acting as an agent and/or employee of each of the other Defendants and was acting within the course and/or scope of said agency and/or employment with the full knowledge and consent of each of the Defendants. Each of the acts and/or omissions complained of herein were alleged and made known to, and ratified by, each of the other Defendants (Defendant, together with any DOE Defendants, are collectively referred to hereinafter as “Defendant” or “Defendants”).

VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PERSONS’ ACCESS TO THE INTERNET

18. The Internet has become a significant source of information, a portal, and a tool for conducting business, doing everyday activities such as shopping, learning, banking, researching, as well as many other activities for sighted, blind and visually-impaired persons alike. As an essential tool for many Americans, when accessible, the Internet provides individuals with disabilities great independence. Blind persons are able to access websites using keyboards in conjunction with screen access software that vocalizes the visual information found on a computer screen. This technology is known as screen-reading software. Except for legally blind individuals whose residual vision allows them to use magnification, screen-reading software is currently the only method a blind person can fully and independently access the internet.

19. Blind and visually-impaired users of Windows computers and devices have several screen-reading software programs available to them.

20. Job Access With Speech, otherwise known as “JAWS,” is currently the most popular, separately purchased screen-reading software program available for Windows.

21. For screen-reading software to function, the information on a website must be capable of being rendered into text. If the website content is not capable of being rendered into text, the blind or visually-impaired user is unable to access the same content available to sighted users using their keyboards because they are unable to see the screen or manipulate a mouse.

22. Screen-reading software is currently the only method a blind or visuallyimpaired person may independently access the internet, websites, and other digital content.

23. If the website content is not capable of being rendered into text, the blind or visually-impaired user is unable to access and navigate the same content on a website or mobile app that is available to sighted users.

24. There are well-established industry adopted guidelines for making websites accessible to visually-impaired people who require screen-reading software programs. These guidelines have existed for at least several years and are successfully followed by large business entities who want to ensure their websites are accessible to all persons. The Web Accessibility Initiative (“WAI”), an initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium developed guidelines on website accessibility. Through Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the federal government also promulgated website accessibility standards. These guidelines, easily found on the Internet, recommend several basic components for making websites accessible, including, but not limited to: adding invisible Alt-text to graphics; ensuring all functions can be performed using a keyboard and not just a mouse; ensuring that image maps are accessible; and adding headings so blind and visually-impaired people can navigate websites and mobile applications just as sighted people do. Without these basic components, websites and mobile applications are inaccessible to a blind person using screen-reading software.

25. Common barriers encountered by blind and visually-impaired persons include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. A text equivalent for every non-text element is not provided;

b. Title frames with text are not provided for identification and navigation;

c. Equivalent text is not provided when using scripts;

d. Forms with the same information and functionality as for sighted persons are not provided;

e. Information about the meaning and structure of content is not conveyed by more than the visual presentation of content;

f. Text cannot be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality;

g. If the content enforces a time limit, the user is not able to extend, adjust, or disable it;

h. Web pages do not have titles that describe the topic or purpose;

i. The purpose of each link cannot be determined from the link text alone or from the link text and its programmatically determined link context;

j. One or more keyboard operable user interface lacks a mode of operation where the keyboard focus indicator is discernible;

k. The default human language of each web page cannot be programmatically determined;

l. When a component receives focus, it may initiate a change in context;

m. Changing the setting of a user interface component may automatically cause a change of context where the user has not been advised before using the component;

n. Labels or instructions are not provided when content requires user input;

o. In content which is implemented by using markup languages, elements do not have complete start and end tags, elements are not nested according to their specifications, elements may contain duplicate attributes and/or any IDs are not unique;

p. Inaccessible Portable Document Format (PDFs); and,

q. The name and role of all User Interface elements cannot be programmatically determined; items that can be set by the user cannot be programmatically set; and/or notification of changes to these items is not available to user agents, including screen-reading software.

26. Binding California law recognizes website accessibility claims under the ADA and the UCRA. In September 2019, California Court of Appeal in Thurston v. Midvale Corp., 39 Cal. App. 5th 634 (2019), held that businesses are accountable for the inaccessibility of websites and for content of third parties with whom they contract to provide services to customers (map programs, reservations, sales etc.), that the trial court did not violate defendant’s due process rights by imposing WCAG 2.0 AA compliance standards for injunctive relief, that the injunction was not overbroad or uncertain, and that plaintiff had standing to obtain injunction under the Unruh Act because she visited the website and encountered barriers to access. In June 2020, California Court of Appeal in Martinez v. San Diego County Credit Union, ___ Cal.Rptr.3d ___ (2020), 2020 WL 3396649 also held that there is a sufficient nexus between a website and place of public accommodation if the “website permits the customer to research and prepare before going to the physical facility, including to make informed decisions about its products and services.

27. An abundance of other State and federal courts throughout California and the country have also held that commercial websites and mobile applications must be accessible under the ADA and UCRA. See Robles v. Domino’s Pizza, LLC , 17-55504, 2019 WL 190134 (9th Cir. January 15, 2019) (Holding the ADA and UCRA apply to websites and mobile applications, that imposing liability under Title III of the ADA and Unruh Act would not violate Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process, that the ADA is not impermissibly vague in this context, that regulated parties have received fair notice of their obligations since 1996, that it was error to invoke the doctrine of primary jurisdiction and finally that an order requiring compliance with WCAG 2.0 is a possible equitable remedy); Long v. Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., No. C16-1961 TSZ 2018 WL 3533338 (W.D. Wash. July 23, 2018) (denying Defendant’s summary judgment motion based on voluntary cessation and mootness and finding that defendant’s website is subject to the accessibility regulations under the ADA as a matter of law); Carroll v. Fedfinancial Fed. Credit Union, 2018 WL 3212023 (E.D. Va. June 25, 2018) (denying Defendant’s Motion to Dismissed based on jurisdiction, Title III applicability, and due process arguments); Haynes v. Hooters of Am., LLC, 17-13170, 2018 WL 3030840 (11th Cir. June 19, 2018) (holding that a private settlement agreement does not moot a new web access claim by a different plaintiff); Gil v. SMG Holdings, No. 1:18-cv20107 (S.D. Fl. May 28, 2018) (denying a motion to dismiss and holding that mootness and voluntary cessation defenses did not apply when defendant claimed it was already in the process of correcting the barriers on its website); Castillo v. Jo-Ann Stores, LLC, No. 5:17-cv20110-KBB (N.D. Ohio February 13, 2018) (denying motion to dismiss finding plaintiff has stated a cognizable website ADA claim and has standing, plaintiff successfully alleged a nexus between defendant’s website and its brick and mortar stores, and the injunctive relief sought does not violate due process rights); Gathers v. 1-800-FLOWERS.com, No. 1:17-cv-10273 (Mass. February 12, 2018) (denying a motion to dismiss sought against ADA claims); Robles v. Yum! Brands, Inc. d/b/a Pizza Hut, No. 2:16-cv-08211-ODW(SS) at *15. (C.D. Cal. Jan. 25, 2018) (Wright) (denying a motion for summary judgment sought against ADA and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act claims) (“Pizza Hut cannot simply post a customer service phone number on its website and claim that it is in compliance with the ADA unless it shows that a visually-impaired customer ‘will not be excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently’ from non-visually impaired customers who are able to enjoy full access to Pizza Hut’s website” [citations omitted]); Andrews v. Blick Art Materials, LLC, No. 1:17-cv-00767-JBW-RLM (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 21, 2017) (Weinstein, J.) (Memorandum and Order approving settlement of website accessibility case in the form of judgment); Brooke v. AVentures, LLC, No. 2:17-cv-2868-HRH at 19. (A.Z. Nov. 22, 2017) (granting declaratory judgment that defendant’s website did not comply with ADA; defendant enjoined to ensure equal access) (“[D]efendant was in violation of the Americans with Disability Act because its hotel reservations website did not afford disabled persons equal access to defendant’s public accommodation”); Rios v. New York & Company, Inc., No. 2:17-cv-04676-ODW (AGr) (C.D. Cal. Nov. 16, 2017) (Wright) (denying a motion for judgment on the pleadings sought against Unruh Act claims) (“[T]he Court finds that this case is not unique, ‘as federal courts have resolved effective communication claims under the ADA in a variety of contexts— including cases involving allegations of unequal access to goods, benefits, and services provided through websites.’ Hobby Lobby, 2017 WL 2957736, at *7”); Access Now, Inc. v. Blue Apron, LLC, No. 17-cv-116-JL at 21. (C.D. N.H. November 8, 2017) (denying a motion to dismiss sought against ADA claims) (“[Plaintiffs] rely on Title III of the ADA as governing the defendant’s potential liability and invoke compliance with the WCAG 2.0 AA standards as a sufficient condition, but not a necessary condition, for such compliance, and therefore as a potential remedy.”); Gorecki v. Dave & Buster’s, Inc., No. 2:17-cv-01138-PSG-AGR (C.D. Cal. October 10, 2017) (Gutierrez, P.) (denying a motion for summary judgment sought against ADA and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act claims) (“a finding of liability regarding the Website’s compliance with the ADA does not require sophisticated technical expertise beyond the ability of the Court”); Kayla Reed v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., Case No. 2:17-cv-03877-MWFSK, at *9. (C.D. Cal. Oct. 3, 2017) (Fitzgerald) (denying a motion to dismiss sought against ADA and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act claims) (“The DOJ’s position that the ADA applies to websites being clear, it is no matter that the ADA and the DOJ fail to describe exactly how any given website must be made accessible to people with visual impairments. Indeed, this is often the case with the ADA’s requirements, because the ADA and its implementing regulations are intended to give public accommodations maximum flexibility in meeting the statute’s requirements. This flexibility is a feature, not a bug, and certainly not a violation of due process.”); Andrews v. Blick Art Materials, LLC, — F. Supp. 3d –, 2017 WL 3278898, at *12, *15-*18 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 1, 2017) (Weinstein, J.); Gomez v. Lego Systems, Inc., Case 1:17-cv-21628-CMA (S.D. Fla. July 31, 2017) (denying a motion to dismiss an ADA claim alleging an inaccessible commercial website) [ECF #40]; Thurston v. Chino Commercial Bank, N.A., No. CV 17-01078 BRO (JCx), 2017 WL 3224681, at *5 (C.D. Cal. July 27, 2017) (citing Gorecki); Markett v. Five Guys Enterprises LLC, No. 1:17-cv-00788- KBF, slip op. at 4-6 [ECF #33] (S.D.N.Y. July 21, 2017); Gorecki v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., No. 2:17-cv-01131-JFW-SK, 2017 WL 2957736 (C.D. Cal. June 15, 2017) (Walter, J.) (denying a motion to dismiss sought against ADA and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act claims) (“[T]his is a relatively straightforward claim that Hobby Lobby failed to provide disabled individuals full and equal enjoyment of goods and services . . . by not maintaining a fully accessible website. There is nothing unique about this case, as federal courts have resolved effective communication claims under the ADA in a wide variety of contexts– including cases involving allegations of unequal access to goods, benefits and services provided through websites.”); Gil v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., No. 16-23020-Civ-Scola, — F. Supp. 3d –, 2017 WL 2547242, at *7 (S.D. Fla. June 13, 2017) (finding that the defendant, a large supermarket chain, had violated the plaintiff’s rights under the ADA by failing to maintain an accessible website after a non-jury trial); Frazier v. Ameriserv Financial Bank, Nos. 2:16-cv-01898-AJS (Lead Case), 17cv0031 [ECF #107], slip op. at 20 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 21, 2017) (denying a motion to dismiss an ADA claim alleging an inaccessible commercial website); Frazier v. Churchill Downs Inc., Nos. 2:16-cv-01898-AJS (Lead Case), 2:16-cv0007 (Member Case) [ECF #107] slip op. at 20 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 21, 2017) (same); OmahaSteaks.com, Inc. v. Access Now, Inc., et al., No. 8:17-cv-00060-LSC-CRZ [ECF #9-1] (D. Neb. Apr. 17, 2017) (consent decree); Access Now, Inc., et al. v. Omahasteaks.com, Inc., Nos. 2:16-cv-01898-AJS (Lead Case), 2:17-cv-00269-AJS (Member Case) [ECF #99] (W.D. Pa. Apr. 11, 2017 (same); Gil v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., — F. Supp. 3d –, No. 16-23020-CivScola, 2017 WL 2609330 (S.D. Fla. Mar. 15, 2017) (denying a motion for judgment on the pleadings sought against an ADA claim alleging an inaccessible commercial website); Nat’l Ass’n of the Deaf v. Harvard Univ., Case 3:15-cv-30023-MGM, 2016 WL 3561622, at *12- *20 (D. Mass. Feb. 9, 2016) (Robertson, Mag. J.) (recommending the denial of a motion to dismiss or stay predicated on the primary jurisdiction doctrine), adopted in Nat’l Ass’n of the Deaf v. Harvard Univ., Case 3:15-cv-30023-MGM, 2016 WL 6540446, at *1-*3 (D. Mass. Nov. 3, 2016) (Mastroianni, J.); Nat’l Ass’n of the Deaf v. Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Case 3:15- cv-30024-MGM, 2016 WL 3561631, at *1 (D. Mass. Feb. 9, 2016) (Robertson, Mag. J.) (recommending the denial of a motion to dismiss or stay predicated on the primary jurisdiction doctrine), adopted in Nat’l Ass’n of the Deaf v. Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Case 3:15-cv30024-MGM, 2016 WL 6652471, at *1 (D. Mass. Nov. 4, 2016) (Mastroianni, J.); Edward Davis v. Orlando Wilshire Investments Ltd., et al., No. 5:15-cv-01738-MWF-KK, slip op. at 10 [ECF #17] (C.D. Cal. Nov. 2, 2015) (Fitzgerald, J.) (denying motion to dismiss in a website accessibility case) (“the Court concludes that the Complaint sufficiently alleges that the inaccessibility of the Website impedes the full and equal enjoyment of the Hotel.”); Sipe v. Huntington National Bank, 15-CV-1083, Doc No. 21 (W.D. Pa. Nov. 18, 2015) (denying motion to dismiss based on claims the DOJ had not yet issued regulations governing website accessibility); Nat’l Fed’n of the Blind v. Scribd, Inc., 98 F. Supp.3d 565, 576 (D. Vt. 2015) (denying a motion to dismiss an ADA claim against a commercial website operator); James Patrick Brown v. BPS Direct, LLC, et al., Case No. LACV 14-04622 JAK (JEMx) slip op. at 4-7 [ECF #30] (C.D. Cal. Oct. 6, 2014) (Krondstadt, J.) (denying the defendant’s motion to dismiss while relying on the Target decision as “persuasive”, and holding “the Complaint does allege that Bass Pro Shops is a chain of brick-and-mortar stores and that BassPro.com is a website providing information about Bass Pro Shops products, offers, and locations…. [and that] a nexus could be established here through discovery.”); Penney v. Kohl’s Dep’t Stores, Inc., et al., No. 8:14-cv-01100-CJC-DFM [ECF #12] slip op. at 3 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 23, 2014) (Carney, J.) (denying a motion to dismiss and stating, “Thus, the Complaint states plausible facts that establish the requisite nexus between the challenged service and the place of public accommodation.”); National Ass’n of the Deaf v. Netflix, Inc., 869 F. Supp. 2d 196, 200 (D. Mass. 2012) (excluding web-based services would “run afoul of the purposes of the ADA and would severely frustrate Congress’s intent that individuals with disabilities fully enjoy the goods, services, privileges, and advantages available indiscriminately to other members of the general public”); id. at 200-01 (“[T]he legislative history of the ADA makes clear that Congress intended the ADA to adapt to changes in technology.”) (quoting H.R. Rep. 101- 485(II), at 108 (1990)) (“[T]he Committee intends that the types of accommodation and services provided to individuals with disabilities, under all of the titles of this bill, should keep pace with the rapidly changing technology of the times.”); Shields v. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US, Inc., 279 F.R.D. 529, 559 (C.D. Cal. 2011) (rejecting as “unpersuasive” Disney’s argument that “there is no accepted accessibility standard” and the argument that the DOJ has yet to determine what standards to apply to websites and stating, “The lack of a widely accepted standard for website accessibility does not preclude injunctive relief that would improve access to Defendants’ websites by the visually-impaired.”); Nat’l Federation of the Blind v. Target Corp., 452 F. Supp. 2d 946, 953 (N.D. Cal. 2006) (“To limit the ADA to discrimination in the provision of services occurring on the premises of a public accommodation would contradict the plain language of the statute.”); id. at 953-54 (“consistent with the plain language of the statute, no court has held that under the nexus theory a plaintiff has a cognizable claim only if the challenged service prevents physical access to a public accommodation. Further, it is clear that the purpose of the statute is broader than mere physical access—seeking to bar actions or omissions which impair a disabled person’s “full enjoyment” of services or goods of a covered accommodation. 42 U.S.C. § 12182(a). Indeed, the statute expressly states that the denial of equal “participation” or the provision of “separate benefit[s]” are actionable under Title III. See 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(1)(A).”); cf. Hindel v. Husted, No. 2017 WL 432839, at *7 (S.D. Ohio Feb. 1, 2017) (granting a permanent injunction against the Ohio Secretary of State based on the accessibility of the state’s website under Title II of the ADA and requiring accessibility); Hindel v. Husted, No. 17-3207 (6th Cir., Nov. 13, 2017) (defendant bears the burden of production and persuasion as to affirmative defenses such as fundamental alteration and subject matter of state election laws do not relieve defendant of these burdens); Davis v. BMI/BNB Travelware company No. CIVDS1504682 WL2935482 (Cal.Super. March 21, 2016) (granting motion for summary judgment for plaintiff and ordering that defendant’s website be made WCAG 2.0 compliant and awarding Unruh damages in favor of plaintiff).

           28. Each of Defendant’s violations of the ADA is likewise a violation of the UCRA. Indeed, the UCRA provides that any violation of the ADA constitutes a violation of the UCRA. Cal. Civ. Code § 51(f).

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

29. Defendant offers its commercial Website to the public.

      30. The Website offers features which should allow all consumers to access the goods and services offered in connection with its brick-and-mortar locations.

31. The Website provides consumers with access to an array of goods, services, and information related to Defendant’s brick-and-mortar locations which include, but are not limited to, the following: menu descriptions, online ordering, gallery options, pricing details, store location information, and many other benefits.

32. Based on information and belief, it is Defendant’s policy and practice to deny Plaintiff, along with other blind or visually-impaired users, access to Defendant’s Website, and to therefore specifically deny the goods and services that are offered and integrated with Defendant’s brick-and-mortar locations and otherwise.

33. Due to Defendant’s failure and refusal to remove access barriers to its Website, Plaintiff and visually-impaired persons have been and are still being denied equal access to Defendant’s brick-and-mortar locations and the numerous goods, services, privileges, and benefits offered to the public through Defendant’s Website.

34. Plaintiff cannot use a computer without the assistance of screen-reading software.

35. However, Plaintiff is a proficient user of the JAWS screen-reader and uses it to access the Internet.

36. Plaintiff has visited Defendant’s Website on separate occasions using the JAWS screen-reader.

37. While attempting to navigate the Website, Plaintiff encountered multiple accessibility barriers for blind or visually-impaired people that include, but are not limited to:

a. The home page has graphics, links, and buttons that are not labeled or are incorrectly labeled, or lack alternative text (“Alt-text”). Alt-text is invisible code embedded beneath a graphical image on a website. Web accessibility requires that Alt-text be coded with each picture so that screen-reading software can speak the Alt-text where a sighted user sees pictures. Alt-text does not change the visual presentation, but instead a text box shows when the cursor moves over the picture. The lack of Alt-text on these graphics prevents screen-readers from accurately vocalizing a description of the graphics;

b. Plaintiff encountered multiple unlabeled or mislabeled buttons and links. Without descriptive alternate text, Plaintiffs, and other screenreader users, have no clue about the purpose or function of the button or link;

c. Plaintiff encountered multiple pages containing insufficient navigational headings requiring Plaintiff to expend substantial additional time to access information;

d. Plaintiff was unable to browse the menu because menu links and descriptions were inaccessible to screen reading technology; and,

e. Plaintiff was unable to make a purchase because of an inaccessible checkout system.

38. Due to the unlabeled buttons, lack of Alt-text, the structure of the headings and Website, cursor traps, and other barriers, Plaintiff was unable to fully and independently access the Website when visiting for the dual purpose of testing for compliance with the UCRA and ADA and to browse the menu, place an order, and visit the nearest brick-and-mortar location.

39. Since as early as May of 2021, and until the current date, during Plaintiff’s separate visits to the Website, Plaintiff encountered multiple access barriers which denied Plaintiff full and equal access to the facilities, goods, and services offered to the public and made available to the public on the Website.

40. Due to the widespread access barriers Plaintiff encountered on the Website, Plaintiff has been deterred, on a regular basis, from accessing the Website. Similarly, the access barriers Plaintiff encountered on the Website have deterred Plaintiff from visiting Defendant’s brick-and-mortar locations.

41. If the Website were equally accessible to all, Plain

42. Having attempted to use the Website, Plaintiff has actual knowledge of the access barriers that make these services inaccessible and independently unusable by blind and visually-impaired people.

43. There are readily available, well established guidelines, available to Defendant on the Internet, for designing, constructing, and maintaining websites to be accessible to blind and visually-impaired persons. Other large business entities have used these guidelines, or have otherwise been able, to make their websites accessible, including but not limited to: adding Alt-text to graphics and ensuring that all functions can be performed using a keyboard. In addition, incorporating these basic changes and adding certain elements to Defendant’s Website would not fundamentally alter the nature of Defendant’s business nor would it result in an undue burden to Defendant. Because maintaining and providing a website where all functions can be performed using a keyboard would provide full, independent, and equal access to all consumers to the Website, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant has engaged in acts of discrimination including, but not limited to the following policies or practices

a. Construction and maintenance of a website that is inaccessible tovisually-impaired individuals, including Plaintiff;

b. Failure to construct and maintain a website that is sufficiently intuitive so as to be equally accessible to visually-impaired individuals, including Plaintiff; and,

c. Failure to take actions to correct these access barriers in the face of substantial harm and discrimination to blind and visually-impaired consumers, such as Plaintiff, as a member of a protected class.

44. Although Defendant may currently have centralized policies for maintenance and operation of the Website, Defendant lacks a plan and policy reasonably calculated to make its website fully and equally accessible to, and independently usable by, blind and other visually-impaired consumers, including Plaintiff.

45. Without injunctive relief, Plaintiff and other visually-impaired consumers will continue to be unable to independently use Defendant’s Website in violation of their rights.

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
VIOLATION OF THE UNRUH CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE § 51 et seq. [Your website Domain)
(By Plaintiff Against All Defendants)

46. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference all paragraphs alleged above and each and every other paragraph in this Complaint necessary or helpful to state this cause of action as though fully set forth herein.

47. California Civil Code § 51 et seq. guarantees equal access for people with disabilities to the accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, and services of all business establishments of any kind whatsoever. Defendant is systematically violating the UCRA, Civil Code § 51 et seq.

48. Defendant’s brick-and-mortar locations are “business establishments” within the meaning of the Civil Code § 51 et seq. Defendant generates revenue through its Website. Defendant’s Website is a service provided by Defendant that is inaccessible to patrons who areblind or visually-impaired like Plaintiff. This inaccessibility denies blind and visuallyimpaired patrons full and equal access to the facilities, goods, and services that Defendant makes available to the non-disabled public. Defendant is violating the UCRA, Civil Code § 51 et seq., by denying visually-impaired customers the goods and services provided on its Website. These violations are ongoing.

49. Defendants’ actions constitute intentional discrimination against Plaintiff on the basis of a disability, in violation of the UCRA, Civil Code § 51 et seq., because of the following: Defendant has constructed a website that is inaccessible to Plaintiff; Defendant maintains the Website in this inaccessible format; and, Defendant has failed to take action to correct and remove these barriers even after being on notice of the discrimination that such barriers cause to persons with Plaintiff’s disability.

50. Defendant is also violating the UCRA, Civil Code § 51 et seq. because the conduct alleged herein violates various provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq. as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-325), as set forth above. Section 51(f) of the Civil Code provides that a violation of the right of any individual under the ADA also constitutes a violation of the UCRA.

51. The actions of Defendant violate UCRA, Civil Code § 51 et seq., and Plaintiff is therefore entitled to injunctive relief remedying the discrimination. Plaintiff expressly limits the cost of injunctive relief sought to $50,000 or less.

52. Plaintiff is entitled to statutory minimum damages pursuant to Civil Code § 52 for each and every offense; however, Plaintiff hereby expressly limits the amount of money such that the total amount Plaintiff seeks to for each and every offense shall not exceed $24,999.00. 53. Plaintiff is also entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. PRAYER WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendant, as follows:

1. A Declaratory Judgment that at the commencement of this action Defendant owns, maintains, and/or operates its Website in a manner which discriminates against the blind, fails to provide access to blind or visually-impaired individuals, and that Defendant took no action that was reasonably calculated to ensure that its Website is fully accessible to, and independently usable by blind and visually-impaired individuals in violation of California’s Unruh Act, California Civil Code § 51 , et seq;

2. A preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining Defendant from further violations of the UCRA, Civil Code § 51 et seq. with respect to (Your Website Domain).

3. A preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to take the steps necessary to make (Your Website Domain) readily accessible to and usable by blind and visually-impaired individuals but Plaintiff hereby expressly limits the injunctive relief to require that Defendant expend no more than $50,000 thereon;

4. Plaintiff seeks no relief related to any architectural barriers to access in this Complaint and expressly limits all claims to injunctive relief to modifications of Defendant’s policies and procedures related to the Website;

5. An award of statutory minimum statutory damages of not less than $4,000 per violation pursuant to § 52(a) of the California Civil Code;

6. An additional award of $4,000.00 as deterrence damages for each violation pursuant to Johnson v. Guedoir, 218 F. Supp. 3d 1096; 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150740 (USDC Cal, E.D. 2016);

7. For attorneys’ fees and expenses pursuant to all applicable laws including, without limitation, Civil Code § 52(a); 8. For pre-judgment interest to the extent permitted by law; 9. For costs of suit; and, 10. For such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.

8. For pre-judgment interest to the extent permitted by law;

9. For costs of suit; and,

10. For such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff hereby respectfully requests a trial by jury on all appropriate issues raised in this Complaint.

Dated: Month, Day, Year MANNING LAW, APC

By: _____________________________________
Joseph R. Manning Jr., Esq.
Attorney for Plaintiff