Plaintiff
- Name: Ashley Bahena
- Filing Date: April 24, 2026
- Court: United States District Court Northern District of Illinois
- State: Illinois
- Attorney Firm: Equal Access Law Group, PLLC
Defendant
- Name: Fitness Equipment Services, LLC
- Website: www.soletreadmills.com
- Industry: Consumer Goods
- Standards Cited: WCAG 2.2
- Summary: Provides consumers access to an array of fitness equipment including rowers, treadmills, ellipticals, and exercise bikes for online purchase.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, Ashley Bahena, a visually impaired individual, is suing Fitness Equipment Services, LLC for failing to make its website, Soletreadmills.com, accessible to blind users, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Bahena alleges that the website contains significant barriers that prevent her and others from independently navigating and completing purchases. The complaint seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make the website accessible and compensatory damages for the discrimination faced by Bahena and the class members. The plaintiff claims that the website's design relies on visual elements that are not compatible with screen-reading software, thus denying equal access to visually impaired individuals.
Causes of Action
- Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Key Allegations
- Website is inaccessible to visually impaired individuals
- Access barriers prevent independent navigation and purchases
- Defendant failed to comply with ADA standards
Requested Relief
- Preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit violations of the ADA
- Injunction requiring compliance with ADA
- Declaration of discrimination against visually impaired individuals
- Class action certification
- Pre- and post-judgment interest
- Award of costs and attorney fees
Proposed Class
all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access the Website and as a result have been denied access to the enjoyment of goods and services offered by the Website, during the relevant statutory period.
Jurisdiction & Venue
Subject-matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 12182; venue proper under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(1) and (2)
