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Accessibility.com, LLC

SANCHEZ v. OATH, INC.

Filed February 18, 2021

Plaintiff

  • Name: Cristian Sanchez
  • Filing date: February 18, 2021
  • State of filing: New York

Defendant

  • Name: Oath Inc
  • Website: finance.yahoo.com
  • Industry: Media
  • Summary: Oath Inc. is the division of Verizon Media formed by combining Yahoo and AOL after Verizon purchased the two corporations. At issue here is Yahoo Finance, a website offering financial data and advice.

Case Summary

On February 18, 2021, Cristian Sanchez filed a Complaint in New York Federal court against Oath Inc. Plaintiff Cristian Sanchez alleges that finance.yahoo.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.
  • The logo along with "Finance Home", acts as links to the homepage, are not labeled as the homepage and therefore cannot be interpreted by a screen reader as to what the graphic represents nor the underlying purpose of creating a way to return to the site's homepage.
  • When using the keyboard for navigation, the website loses its functionality for the links with headers and the related options. This loss of functionality creates issues with the screen reader and as such causes the user to lose valuable information due to the content not being recognized by a screen reader.
  • Site element such as information pertaining to Cryptocurrencies are not fully labeled to integrate with a screen reader. The Cryptocurrencies symbol is accessible, however, last price, change and % change are not
    accessible. These create an issues as only partial information given.
  • The site contains an events calendar in which the events are labeled properly by the screen reader, however the date of the event is not labeled. This causes confusion as to the information cannot be clearly
    relied to the user.

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. 

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