Plaintiff
- Name: Ashley Bahena
- Filing Date: February 3, 2026
- Court: United States District Court Northern District of Illinois
- State: Illinois
- Attorney Firm: Equal Access Law Group, PLLC
Defendant
- Name: Kahala Franchising, LLC
- Website: thegreatsteak.com
- Industry: Hotel, Restaurant and Leisure
- Standards Cited: WCAG 2.2
- Summary: Provides consumers access to an array of goods and services, including cheesesteaks, baked potatoes, side items, and drinks, offered for pickup, delivery, and catering.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, Ashley Bahena, a visually impaired individual, is suing Kahala Franchising, LLC for failing to make its website, https://thegreatsteak.com, accessible to blind users. Bahena alleges that the website contains significant barriers that prevent her and others from completing transactions independently, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint details various accessibility issues, including improper coding of headings and reliance on mouse navigation, which hinder visually impaired users from accessing the website's services. Bahena seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make the website accessible and compensatory damages for the discrimination faced.
Causes of Action
- Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Declaratory Relief
Key Allegations
- Website is inaccessible to visually impaired individuals
- Access barriers prevent independent navigation and transactions
- Defendant failed to comply with ADA requirements
Requested Relief
- Preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the ADA
- Injunction requiring Defendant to make the Website accessible
- Declaration that the Website discriminates against visually impaired individuals
- Class action certification
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
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).
