Caitlin Walsh v. Care-A-Lot, Inc.

Case Summary

According to the complaint, Plaintiff Caitlin Walsh, a visually-impaired individual, is suing Care-A-Lot, Inc. for failing to make its website, www.carealotpets.com, accessible to blind users as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint alleges that the website contains numerous barriers that prevent blind individuals from accessing its goods and services, including missing alt-text and broken links. Plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to comply with accessibility standards and to ensure that the website is usable by visually-impaired consumers. The case is filed as a class action on behalf of all legally blind individuals who have faced similar issues accessing the website.

Causes of Action

• Violations of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq.
• Declaratory Relief

Key Allegations

• Defendant’s website is not accessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals.
• Plaintiff encountered barriers that denied her full and equal access to the website.
• Defendant failed to comply with WCAG 2.1 guidelines.

Requested Relief

• A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the ADA.
• An injunction requiring Defendant to make its website fully compliant with the ADA.
• A declaration that Defendant's website discriminates against the blind.
• An order certifying the Class and appointing Plaintiff as Class Representative.
• Payment of nominal damages.
• Pre- and post-judgment interest.
• An award of costs and expenses of this action.

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; venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(1) and (2).