Plaintiff
- Name: Christopher Walters, Jared Charlap
- Filing Date: December 10, 2025
- Court: United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania
- State: Pennsylvania
- Attorney Firm: Nye, Stirling, Hale, Miller, Sweet LLP
Defendant
- Name: Shimano North America Holding, Inc.
- Website: www.gloomis.com
- Industry: Consumer Goods
- Standards Cited: WCAG 2.1
- Summary: Designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes fishing rods, apparel, and related products.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, plaintiffs Christopher Walters and Jared Charlap, both legally blind, are suing Shimano North America Holding, Inc. for failing to make its digital platform accessible, violating Title III of the ADA. They allege that they encountered significant barriers while attempting to access the website, which prevented them from purchasing fishing rods. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction requiring the defendant to implement changes to ensure accessibility, as well as a declaratory judgment that the defendant is in violation of the ADA. They also request payment of costs and attorneys' fees.
Causes of Action
- Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq.
Key Allegations
- Defendant's digital properties are not accessible to legally blind individuals.
- Plaintiffs encountered barriers that denied them full access to the digital platform.
- Accessibility overlays used by the defendant fail to meet compliance standards.
Requested Relief
- A Declaratory Judgment of violation of the ADA.
- A permanent injunction to ensure compliance with the ADA.
- Payment of costs of suit and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
- Payment of nominal damages.
Proposed Class
Individuals with visual disabilities who are denied full and equal access to the digital platform of Shimano North America Holding, Inc.
Jurisdiction & Venue
Jurisdiction is invoked pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 12188; venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2).