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ADA Website Compliance Lawsuit Case & Settlement Example

ADA compliance lawsuits for websites are becoming more common each year and have increased in trending since 2004. The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have requirements for businesses to accommodate people that have a disability, which can include digital areas such as websites. Some of the disabilities that a person may have while using a website includes a deaf and/or blind person that requires a screen reader, voice, or other assistive technologies. It’s important that your website can function with these assistive technologies to help a person with a disability have access to all of the content on the site. 

If you want to jump to a specific ADA Website Compliance Lawsuit section, please select one below.

Some of these lawsuits can be settled quickly, but should be consulted with legal counsel (your attorney) to help negotiate a settlement.

At the same time, you should be reviewing and updating your website to be 100% ADA compliant. There are common issues that websites fail with ADA compliance that include contrast ratio errors on images and text, missing Alt text on images, empty heading tags, navigation issues with assistive technologies, etc. 

We have put together some information and examples of an ADA website compliance lawsuit to help encourage you to review your site for ADA compliance.

What to do if you have an ADA Compliance Website Lawsuit

  • First, find legal assistance with an experienced attorney to help with your website ADA compliance case. Next, get your website to be ADA compliant. There are several ADA compliance tools that help point out the immediate ADA compliance issues with your website, such as the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool. As mentioned earlier, issues with color contrast errors, image alt text and navigational problems are the most common ADA issues found and called out in an ADA compliance website lawsuit.

    Document that you have improved your website to be ADA compliant and followed WCAG 2.1 AA standards. This will show that you have taken steps to become ADA compliant and that you are doing something about it. If you have not been in an ADA compliance lawsuit yet, then still document when your website became ADA compliant. Have a dated report printed out showing that it is ADA compliant.

Example Websites with ADA Compliance Lawsuits

Below are example websites with ADA Compliance lawsuits over the past few years.

  • Winn Dixie Stores Inc.
  • Domino’s Pizza Inc.
  • The Kroger Co.
  • Hooters Inc.
  • Activision Blizzard Inc.
  • Ralph Lauren Corp
  • General Nutrition Corporation (GNC)
  • Payless Shoes
  • DASH (Kardashian’s store)
  • Study.com

The above examples may be big brand names, however, the small brick and mortar businesses are also being sued for website ADA compliance. More commonly are:

  • Online retail stores
  • Doctor and dental practice office websites
  • Hospitals
  • Pharmacies
  • Car dealerships
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Movie Theaters
  • Small local businesses
  • Government websites (IE: Parks, Museums, libraries, etc.)

Screenshots of an Example ADA Compliance Lawsuit

Below are example screenshots of an ADA compliance Lawsuit filing so you can see what possible sections may be called out on a website. Each website is different, so this specific example is in no way related to your website. Use the WAVE Tool if you want to see the current ADA compliance issues with your website.

ADA Compliance Lawsuit Screenshot #1 – First Page

The first page of what an ADA compliance lawsuit filing may look like.

ADA Compliance Lawsuit Screenshot #2 – Navigation

One of the common issues a website might face in an ADA compliance lawsuit is the navigation of the website is not consistent across the site.

ADA Compliance Lawsuit Screenshot# 3 – WCAG 2.0 AA

WCAG 2.0 AA is a common standard that is being pushed on websites to help become ADA compliant for the web. WCAG 2.1 AA is a higher standard that should be aimed to be met in case that bar is raised for ADA compliance for websites.

ADA Compliance Lawsuit Screenshot #4 – ALT Text

ALT text is a common area that is failed on websites for ADA compliant. This should be an important fix, as this can help with SEO benefits as well.

ADA Compliance Lawsuit Screenshot #5 – Damages

Don’t let your website be at risk for unnecessary penalties, fines, attorney fees, or settlements from a lawsuit.

Common Sections and Codes Called out in ADA Website Lawsuits

  • Civil Code Sections 54, 54.1
  • 42 U.S.C. § 12101
  • 42 U.S.C. § 12102
  • 42 U.S.C. § 12182
  • Section 302(b)(1) of Title III of the ADA
  • Section 302(b)(2) of Title III of the ADA
  • Section 508

Settlement Example for ADA Compliance Lawsuit for a Website

One example of an ADA compliance lawsuit for a small business would be a settlement for $1,000. However, the attorney fees racked up a $3,000-$4,000 bill. It’s better to fix your website now so it is ADA compliant. Each fine is per person, so you could have multiple lawsuits being racked up with a website not being ADA Compliant. Each case is different, so this is by no means an industry average for ADA compliance lawsuits. Consult with an experienced lawyer about your ADA compliance case.

Small Business Websites are being Sued for ADA Compliance

Small Businesses are being sued frequently for their Website not being ADA Compliant. As mentioned above, the following small businesses are increasingly being sued for their website not being ADA compliant.

  • Online retail stores
  • Doctor and dental practice office websites
  • Hospitals
  • Pharmacies
  • Car dealerships
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Movie Theaters
  • Small local businesses
  • Government websites (IE: Parks, Museums, libraries, etc.)

The Trend in ADA Compliance Website Lawsuits

The trend for website ADA compliance lawsuits has been increasing year over year. Among the most popular states where ADA website compliance lawsuits continue to grow are California, Florida and New York.

Graph of ADA Civil Rights Cases by Type (2005 – 2019) U.S. District Courts – Civil Cases Filed, by Jurisdiction and Nature of Suit Data is from https://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports/caseload-statistics-data-tables

Need Help with ADA Compliance?

Get an experienced team that has worked with different types of industries to help address ADA compliance and website accessibility issues and become WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 AA compliant. If you are a brick and mortar small business owner that is looking to improve the accessibility of your current website or want to ensure that your new website is up to the WCAG standard, please contact us today for a consultation. (805) 409-7700

Contact An ADA Compliance Expert

CaliNetworks Reviews

Saman Ryan Heidari (Sam)Saman Ryan Heidari (Sam)
06:11 26 Oct 23
Gavin ShippenGavin Shippen
06:11 26 Oct 23
Tathagat TantyTathagat Tanty
19:52 28 Sep 23
I recently engaged CaliNetworks for digital marketing consultation for my website, and the experience has been nothing short of five-star! The team demonstrated a profound understanding of the digital landscape, providing innovative strategies and actionable insights that have significantly elevated my online presence. Their tailored approach, coupled with exceptional communication and commitment to achieving results, has driven increased traffic and conversions, ultimately contributing to the growth of my business. CaliNetworks' expertise and dedication make them a standout choice for anyone seeking to enhance their digital marketing efforts, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services!
Johnny LinJohnny Lin
18:42 12 Sep 23
CaliNetworks is incredibly fast in their service delivery, ensuring that no time was wasted in getting things up and running. Their responsiveness to queries and concerns were immediate, making the entire process seamless and stress-free. What truly sets them apart, however, is their profound technical knowledge coupled with their extensive experience in both SEO and PPC. It's evident that they not only know their craft but excel in it. If you're seeking a team that combines efficiency with expertise, CaliNetworks is the way to go. Highly recommended!
Julie AllgoodJulie Allgood
00:10 05 Aug 23
The team at CaliNetworks has been amazing. Their expertise, along with clear communication and listening to our needs has already made a difference in our recruiting process, drawing more attention to our site, and the leads that have come to us are right on point! We appreciate their attention to detail, and look forward to continuing our successful partnership with CaliNetworks.
Barry CohnBarry Cohn
21:46 27 Jun 23
I am very impressed with Ty and his ideas regarding our website. Based on his recommendations, we saved almost $10,000 with two acquisitions and their websites. I moved to CaliNetworks when Jenny Manocchio joined their team; she is a fantastic employee and contact for everything we do on the website and with our SEO and content. I highly recommend CaliNetworks.
Kim JonesKim Jones
17:57 23 Dec 22
I've worked with several stellar social media companies in the past, and CaliNetworks is by far the best of the best! What sets them apart is not only their full-suite of digital media offerings (social, SEO, and graphic design), but also their exceptional service, focus on exceeding their clients' expectations, and creative solution offerings. I can't recommend them enough!
Stella JamesStella James
13:02 09 Dec 22
Calinetworks has been amazing to work with. They helped me move and host my website, as well as fix all of the issues I was having. Support has been great and I'm looking forward to improving my online business with them.Always available very detailed oriented & never misses a beat!
Bradley LeeseBradley Leese
01:34 31 Oct 22
Ty Carson, the president of CaliNetworks, is about as sharp as they come. I had the great privilege of working with Ty many years ago, and I am a much better SEO Analyst because of his leadership and wealth of knowledge. Considering Ty has consulted with some of the largest companies in the world, I recommend taking advantage while prices are low because demand for his services is on the rise.
Saman Ryan Heidari (Sam)Saman Ryan Heidari (Sam)
06:11 26 Oct 23
Gavin ShippenGavin Shippen
06:11 26 Oct 23
Tathagat TantyTathagat Tanty
19:52 28 Sep 23
I recently engaged CaliNetworks for digital marketing consultation for my website, and the experience has been nothing short of five-star! The team demonstrated a profound understanding of the digital landscape, providing innovative strategies and actionable insights that have significantly elevated my online presence. Their tailored approach, coupled with exceptional communication and commitment to achieving results, has driven increased traffic and conversions, ultimately contributing to the growth of my business. CaliNetworks' expertise and dedication make them a standout choice for anyone seeking to enhance their digital marketing efforts, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services!
Johnny LinJohnny Lin
18:42 12 Sep 23
CaliNetworks is incredibly fast in their service delivery, ensuring that no time was wasted in getting things up and running. Their responsiveness to queries and concerns were immediate, making the entire process seamless and stress-free. What truly sets them apart, however, is their profound technical knowledge coupled with their extensive experience in both SEO and PPC. It's evident that they not only know their craft but excel in it. If you're seeking a team that combines efficiency with expertise, CaliNetworks is the way to go. Highly recommended!
Julie AllgoodJulie Allgood
00:10 05 Aug 23
The team at CaliNetworks has been amazing. Their expertise, along with clear communication and listening to our needs has already made a difference in our recruiting process, drawing more attention to our site, and the leads that have come to us are right on point! We appreciate their attention to detail, and look forward to continuing our successful partnership with CaliNetworks.
Barry CohnBarry Cohn
21:46 27 Jun 23
I am very impressed with Ty and his ideas regarding our website. Based on his recommendations, we saved almost $10,000 with two acquisitions and their websites. I moved to CaliNetworks when Jenny Manocchio joined their team; she is a fantastic employee and contact for everything we do on the website and with our SEO and content. I highly recommend CaliNetworks.
Kim JonesKim Jones
17:57 23 Dec 22
I've worked with several stellar social media companies in the past, and CaliNetworks is by far the best of the best! What sets them apart is not only their full-suite of digital media offerings (social, SEO, and graphic design), but also their exceptional service, focus on exceeding their clients' expectations, and creative solution offerings. I can't recommend them enough!
Stella JamesStella James
13:02 09 Dec 22
Calinetworks has been amazing to work with. They helped me move and host my website, as well as fix all of the issues I was having. Support has been great and I'm looking forward to improving my online business with them.Always available very detailed oriented & never misses a beat!
Bradley LeeseBradley Leese
01:34 31 Oct 22
Ty Carson, the president of CaliNetworks, is about as sharp as they come. I had the great privilege of working with Ty many years ago, and I am a much better SEO Analyst because of his leadership and wealth of knowledge. Considering Ty has consulted with some of the largest companies in the world, I recommend taking advantage while prices are low because demand for his services is on the rise.
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CaliNetworks is a Digital Marketing Agency located in Southern California. We offer website services for Online Marketing – SEO, PPC, Social Media, Content, Web Design, Hosting & Website Audits.

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CaliNetworks 555 Marin St. Suite 140c Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

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