Jessica Towns v. L’OREAL USA INC.

Case Summary

According to the complaint, Jessica Towns, a legally blind individual, is suing L’Oréal USA Inc. for failing to make its websites, www.youthtothepeople.com and www.cerave.com, accessible to blind users. The complaint alleges that Towns encountered numerous barriers while attempting to access the sites, including missing alt text and inaccessible forms, which violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Towns seeks injunctive relief to ensure the websites are accessible and compensatory damages for the discrimination she faced. The complaint highlights the importance of digital accessibility for blind individuals and the need for compliance with established accessibility standards.

Causes of Action

• Violations of the ADA
• New York State Human Rights Law
• Violation of New York State Civil Rights
• Violations of the New York City Human Rights Law
• Declaratory Relief

Key Allegations

• Defendant's websites are inaccessible to blind users
• Plaintiff encountered persistent accessibility barriers
• Defendant failed to comply with WCAG 2.1 standards

Requested Relief

• Permanent injunction requiring Defendant to revise its corporate policies for accessibility
• Compensatory damages
• Civil penalties and fines

Proposed Class

All legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access www.youthtothepeople.com and www.cerave.com and were denied equal access to their products, services, and support due to persistent digital accessibility barriers during the relevant statutory period.

Jurisdiction & Venue

This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 12182; venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and (c).