HEDGES v. CAIRN UNIVERSITY

    Plaintiff

    • Name: Donna Hedges
    • Filing date: January 6, 2021
    • State of filing: New York

    Defendant

    • Name: Cairn University
    • Website: www.cairn.edu
    • Industry: Educational
    • Summary: Cairn is a Christian university offering degree and certification programs online and in person at a campus near Philadelphia.

    Case Summary

    On January 6, 2021, Donna Hedges filed a Complaint in New York Federal court against Cairn University. Plaintiff Donna Hedges alleges that www.cairn.edu is not accessible per the WCAG 2.0 accessibility standard(s).

    Case Details

    Plaintiff alleges issues in its Complaint including the following:

    • Lack of Alternative Text (“alt-text”), or a text equivalent.
    • Empty Links That Contain No Text causing the function or purpose of the link to not be presented to the user.
    • Redundant Links where adjacent links go to the same URL address
    • Linked Images Missing Alt-text, which causes problems if an image within a link contains no text and that image does not provide alt-text.
    • Many pages on the Website also contain the same title elements.
    • The Website also contained a host of broken links

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

    • VIOLATIONS OF THE ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq.
    • VIOLATIONS OF THE NYSHRL
    • VIOLATIONS OF THE REHABILITATION ACT of 1973, §504
    • VIOLATIONS OF THE NYCHRL
    • 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., The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, § 504 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 the RA, 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., The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, § 504 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 her 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 Sub-Classes for violations of their civil rights under New York State Human Rights Law and City Law
    • Pre- and post-judgment interest; g. An award of costs and expenses of the action together with reasonable attorneys’ and expert fees; and h. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper. 

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