Laurence Wills v. GRAND STREET FOOD AND WINE, LLC

Case Summary

According to the complaint, Laurence Wills, a visually impaired individual, is suing Grand Street Food and Wine, LLC for failing to make its website, www.fourhorsemenbk.com, accessible to blind users. Wills alleges that he encountered numerous barriers while attempting to make a reservation, including missing alt-text and unclear labels, which violated his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). He seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make the website accessible and claims compensatory damages for the discrimination faced. The complaint highlights the need for compliance with accessibility standards to ensure equal access for visually impaired individuals.

Causes of Action

• Violations of the ADA
• Violations of the NYCHRL
• Declaratory Relief

Key Allegations

• Defendant's website is not accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals.
• Plaintiff was denied the ability to make a reservation due to website barriers.
• Defendant has failed to comply with ADA and NYCHRL accessibility requirements.

Requested Relief

• Permanent injunction requiring Defendant to make its website accessible.
• Compensatory damages for violations of civil rights under NYCHRL.
• Certification of the Class and Sub-Classes.

Proposed Class

All legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access Defendant’s Website and as a result have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of goods and services, 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, and venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(1) and (2).