NIXON v. HAT CLUB, L.L.C.

    Plaintiff

    • Name: Donald Nixon
    • Filing date: August 20, 2019
    • State of filing: New York

    Defendant

    • Name: Hat Club, L.L.C.
    • Website: www.hatclub.com
    • Industry: Apparel
    • Summary: Hat Club LLC sells baseball hats with a large selection of professional sports logos via its website.

    Case Summary

    On August 20, 2019, Donald Nixon filed a Complaint in New York Federal court against Hat Club, L.L.C.. Plaintiff Donald Nixon alleges that www.hatclub.com is not accessible per the WCAG 2.1 accessibility standard(s).

    Case Details

    Plaintiff alleges issues in its Complaint including the following:

    • Defendant’s Website, hatclub.com, lacks alt. text, which is the invisible code embedded beneath a graphical image on a website. 
    • The Website also contains a host of broken links which is a hyperlink linked to a nonexistent or empty web page.
    • The Website also requires the use of a mouse to effectively browse and make a purchase, as well as to create an account.

    Plaintiff asserts the following cause(s) of action in its Complaint:

    • Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq. 
    • New York State Human Rights Law
    • New York City Human Rights Law
    • New York State Civil Rights Law
    • Declaratory Relief

    Plaintiff seeks the following relief by way of its Complaint:

    • A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et seq., N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, et seq., N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of
      New York;
    • A preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to take all the steps necessary to make its Website into full compliance with the requirements set forth in the ADA, and its implementing regulations, so that the Website is readily accessible to and usable by blind individuals;
    • A declaration that Defendant owns, maintains and/or operates its Website in a manner that discriminates against the blind and which fails to provide access for persons with disabilities as required by Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§
      12182, et seq., N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, et seq., N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of New York;
    • An order certifying the Class and Sub-Classes under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) & (b)(2) and/or (b)(3), appointing Plaintiff as Class Representative, and his attorneys as Class Counsel;
    • Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined by proof, including all applicable statutory and punitive damages and fines, to Plaintiff and the proposed class and subclasses for violations of their civil rights under New York State Human Rights Law and City Law;
    • Pre- and post-judgment interest;
    • An award of costs and expenses of the action together with
      reasonable attorneys’ and expert fees; and
    • Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper. 

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