Sandra Ford v. THE PHILLIP MICHAEL GROUP, LLC

Case Summary

According to the complaint, Plaintiff SANDRA FORD is suing The Phillip Michael Group, LLC for failing to make their website, Moderndentalchicago.com, accessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals. The complaint alleges that the website contains significant barriers that prevent these individuals from accessing services, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Plaintiff encountered issues such as ambiguous link texts and the requirement to use a mouse, which hindered her ability to navigate and make an appointment. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make the website accessible and compensatory damages for the discrimination faced by the plaintiff and class members.

Causes of Action

• Violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 12181 et seq. – Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Declaratory Relief
• Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

Key Allegations

• Defendant's website is inaccessible to blind individuals
• Plaintiff was denied the ability to make an appointment due to accessibility barriers
• Defendant failed to comply with the ADA's requirements for website accessibility

Requested Relief

• Preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the ADA
• Injunction requiring Defendant to make its website accessible
• Declaration of discrimination against the blind
• Class action certification
• Payment of nominal damages
• Pre- and post-judgment interest
• Award of costs and expenses
• Punitive damages
• Compensatory damages

Proposed Class

All legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access Moderndentalchicago.com and as a result have been denied access to the enjoyment of services offered by Moderndentalchicago.com, 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)(1) and (2).