Plaintiff
- Name: Cristian Sanchez
- Filing date: February 24, 2021
- State of filing: New York
Defendant
- Name: BFTV, LLC
- Website: shop.soyummy.com
- Industry: Consumer Goods
- Summary: BFTV, doing business as So Yummy, manufactures and sells bakeware, cookware, cookbooks, and related kitchen accessories at retail and via the website.
Case Summary
On February 24, 2021, Cristian Sanchez filed a Complaint in New York Federal court against BFTV, LLC. Plaintiff Cristian Sanchez alleges that shop.soyummy.com is not accessible per the WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1 accessibility standard(s).
Case Details
Plaintiff alleges issues in its Complaint including the following:
- Lack of Alternative Text (“alt-text”), or a text equivalent. Alt-text is an 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, which includes captcha prompts. 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.
- Empty Links That Contain No Text causing the function or purpose of the link to not be presented to the user. This can introduce confusion for keyboard and screen- reader users;
- Redundant Links where adjacent links go to the same URL address which results in additional navigation and repetition for keyboard and screen-reader users; and
- Linked Images Missing Alt-text, which causes problems if an image within a link contains no text and that image does not provide alt-text. A screen reader then has no content to present the user as to the function of the link, including information contained in PDFs.
- When using a keyboard for navigation, the sub-menus, found from the menu options of the main menu are not properly interpreted by screen readers and are ineffective in either communicating what they contain or provide any information to the user so that they are aware of what is occurring on the website.
- Icons such as search button and shopping cart are not labeled properly. The alternate text provides "link" with no other description. This flaw creates issues for the interpretation performed by the screen reader and therefore bars the user from understanding the information the website is to report back to the user.
- Banner found on the website contains promotional or discount information integrated as part of the image. Neither the image description nor the alternate text properly describes the image but more importantly fails to describe the promotion, discount in any form. and thus, fails to provide the user sufficient information for deciding if they wish to take advantage of the opportunity presented.
- Products have text that describe details of the item and the price. The product pricing and the description are not labeled to integrate with screen reader and therefore, overlooks important information that a customer would require to complete a purchase.
Plaintiff asserts the following cause(s) of action in its Complaint:
- VIOLATIONS OF THE ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq.
- VIOLATIONS OF THE NYSHRL
- VIOLATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW
- VIOLATIONS OF THE NYCHRL
- DECLARATORY RELIEF
Plaintiff seeks the following relief by way of its Complaint:
- A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et seq., N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, et seq., N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of New York;
- A preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to take all the steps necessary to make its Website into full compliance with the requirements set forth in the ADA, and its implementing regulations, so that the Website is readily accessible to and usable by blind individuals;
- A declaration that Defendant owns, maintains and/or operates its Website in a manner that discriminates against the blind and which fails to provide access for persons with disabilities as required by Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et seq., N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, et seq.,
N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of New York - An order certifying the Class and Sub-Classes under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) & (b)(2) and/or (b)(3), appointing Plaintiff as Class Representative, and his attorneys as Class Counsel;
- Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined by proof, including all applicable statutory and punitive damages and fines, to
- Plaintiff and the proposed class and subclasses for violations of their civil rights under New York State Human Rights Law and City Law;
- Pre- and post-judgment interest;
- An award of costs and expenses of this action together with
reasonable attorneys’ and expert fees; and - Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.